Unconscious Logic

Rayner, E.H.

doi:10.4324/9780203360262

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…It will be clear from what we have said that the symmetrical experience of turmoil recalls the infinite, and has the characteristics of ‘infinite experience’ (Rayner, 1981). The symmetrical developments mentioned by Matte Blanco are processes of infinitization of experience which arise in the body and its sensations.…”

Section: Panic As a `Catastrophic Experience': The Infinite And The Fmentioning

confidence: 98%

The logic of turmoil: Some epistemological and clinical considerations on emotional experience and the infinite

Bria¹,

Lombardi²

2008

The International Journal of Psychoanalysis

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The idea of the infinite has its origins in the very beginnings of western philosophy and was developed significantly by modern philosophers such as Galileo and Leibniz. Freud discovered the Unconscious which does not respect the laws of classical logic, flouting its fundamental principle of non-contradiction. This opened the way to a new epistemology in which classical logic coexists with an aberrant logic of infinite affects. Matte Blanco reorganized this Freudian revolution in logic and introduced the concept of bi-logic, which is an intermingling of symmetric and Aristotelic logics. The authors explore some epistemological and clinical aspects of the functioning of the deep unconscious where the emergence of infinity threatens to overwhelm the containing function of thought, connecting this topic to some of Bion's propositions. They then suggest that bodily experiences can be considered a prime source of the logic of turmoil, and link a psychoanalytic consideration of the infinite to the mind-body relation. Emotional catastrophe is seen both as a defect-a breakdown of the unfolding function which translates unconscious material into conscious experience-and as the consequence of affective bodily pressures. These pressures function in turn as symmetrizing or infinitizing operators. Two clinical vignettes are presented to exemplify the hypotheses.

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Section: Panic As a `Catastrophic Experience': The Infinite And The Fmentioning

confidence: 98%

The logic of turmoil: Some epistemological and clinical considerations on emotional experience and the infinite

Bria¹,

Lombardi²

2008

The International Journal of Psychoanalysis

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“…Hence, Sarah is the mother of Sam becomes with symmetrical logic interchangeable with Sam is the mother of Sarah (Rayner, 1995). Jane is the sister of Mary, Mary is the sister of Jane, is a symmetrical relation.…”

Section: Symmetrical Thinkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whole objects are experienced as being identical to their parts (Rayner, 1995). Asymmetrical logic dictates that when Y includes X, X is included in Y.…”

Section: Part/whole Equivalencementioning

confidence: 99%

Psychotic and non-psychotic perceptions of reality

Shaw¹

2014

Journal of Child Psychotherapy

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This paper explores the difference between psychotic and non-psychotic perceptions of reality. It begins by outlining the construction of a conceptual framework in infancy. The core of this enables differentiation between self and object, and internal and external space, underlying a non-psychotic perception of reality. The conceptual framework may be inadequately formed or subjected to internal dismantling, in which case a psychotic perception of reality dominates. Case material from two child psychotherapy patients is presented and linked with Bion's theories of psychosis to illustrate a shift between non-psychotic and psychotic thinking in the analytic hour. A psychotic perception of reality dominated by unconscious processes, as identified by Freud and developed by Matte Blanco, is explored.

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“…Matte Blanco's framework offers a new way of theorizing about affect (Carvalho , p. 46): as symmetrically inclined unconscious affect is potentially infinite, a limited space with boundaries—that is an asymmetrical finite universe in which feelings could have a particular place—seems to offer protection from such potential overwhelmingness. Bion's notion of containment (Bion1962), as Bion pointed out (Bion‐Talamo in Rayner , p. 150), can be understood as the function that translates infinite affect into finite feelings. In this paper I explore what it might mean to live at the mercy of raw affect, and what it takes for ordinary object relations to unfold.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From affect to feelings and thoughts: from abuse to care and understanding

Cavalli¹

2014

J Analytical Psychology

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The capacity of the infant to bear affect relies on the capacity of the caregiver until it has achieved enough strength to perform this task itself. In the case of neglect the necessary strength to contain, metabolize and think about affect so that it may be converted into differentiated feelings cannot develop because of the absence of a caregiver capable of sustaining the infant in its emotional development. Instead a system of defence against affect arises in which the affect itself is perceived as intrusive and abusive. Because of neglect a confusion between abuse and affect is to be observed, with catastrophic consequences for the growing up child. Furthermore neglected children can be seduced by external abuse in the hope of being protected from affect that threatens to feel abusive from within. Paradoxically these children are drawn toward abusive situations in the hope of finding some ongoing shelter from unmanageable affect. A corollary of this is that actual containment comes to feel abusive to them: if they are made to feel affect, they perceive the other, who put them in touch with affect, as abusive: thus affect, abuse and containment are confused. Clinical material will support this thesis.

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Unconscious Logic

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

The logic of turmoil: Some epistemological and clinical considerations on emotional experience and the infinite

The logic of turmoil: Some epistemological and clinical considerations on emotional experience and the infinite

Psychotic and non-psychotic perceptions of reality

From affect to feelings and thoughts: from abuse to care and understanding

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