Looking for the Psyche in Psychiatry
Abstract
This chapter centers on Lacan's concept of the objet petit a , a residue of the separation process between mother and child. Though imperceptible, this “object” drives desire, symbolizing the yearning to restore lost unity. This dynamic aligns with structuralist insights regarding the separation between word and thing, as articulated in the Symbolic order. In psychosis, the distinct realms of the Real, Imaginary, and Symbolic become intertwined, manifesting in hallucinations and delusions.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Psychoanalysis
Philosophy
and Politics
Psychology and Mental Health
Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 90–93
- Publication date
- 10 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter