Psychic reality in classical psychoanalytical theory

Abstract

Psychoanalysis points out the existence of psychic reality which possesses characteristics of both, consistence and resistance, similar to the material reality. Similar to the way we conclude about material reality on the basis of perception, we conclude about psychic reality on the basis of self-perception. Or more precisely, psychoanalysis makes conclusions on the basis of interpretation of the fantasies on unconscious wishes and psychic mechanisms that exist at the background. Dream work is part of psychic reality which, through primary process, leads an unconscious wish to a wish fulfillment. Manifest dream picture as a wish fulfillment corresponds to a hallucinatory reproduction of an object perception, over which satisfaction of an urge has already been completed. Apart from the dream work, Sandler also postulates the perception work, which is directed toward revealing of material reality. Perception work is ruled according to the principle of reality, while the dream work is ruled according to the principle of satisfaction. Thanks to the perception work, Ego gets stronger as an instance of personality, while the process of integration develops simultaneously, contributing to the state of well-being. In that way Ego is capable to separate partially from the sphere of urges and to rule over the reality, both material (organic) and psychical one. Perception work and relative autonomy of Ego are preconditions for awareness of both material and psychical reality.

Psihoanaliza ukazuje na postojanje psihičke realnosti koja ima karakteristike konzistentnosti i otpora slično materijalnoj realnosti. Kao što o materijalnoj realnosti zaključujemo na osnovu opažanja, tako o psihičkoj realnosti zaključujemo na osnovu samoopažanja. Preciznije rečeno, psihoanaliza kroz tumačenje fantazija zaključuje o nesvesnim željama i psihičkim mehanizmima koji stoje u pozadini. Psihičkoj realnosti pripada rad sna koji putem primarnih procesa vodi nesvesnu želju ka ispunjenju želje. Manifestna slika sna kao ispunjenje želje odgovara halucinatornoj reprodukciji opažaja objekta na kojem je ostvareno zadovoljenje nagonskog poticaja. Pored rada sna Sendler postulira rad opažaja koji je usmeren na otkrivanje materijalne realnosti. Rad opažanja se odvija po principu realnosti, za razliku od rada sna koji se odvija po principu zadovoljstva. Zahvaljujući radu opažanja ojačava se Ja kao instanca ličnosti, a paralelno se odvija proces integracije koji doprinosi stanju dobrog bitisanja. Na taj način je Ja u stanju da se delimično odvoji od nagonske sfere i ovlada realnošću kako materijalnom (organskom) tako i psihičkom. Rad opažanja i relativna autonomija Ja su preduslovi za spoznaju materijalne i psihičke realnosti.