Traditional psychoanalytic theory, as developed and explicated by Sigmund Freud, was essentially focused on clinical investigations of adults, this despite its postulation of developmental precepts. Even the case of "Little Hans" was one in which Hans was treated not by Freud but by his father. However, one of the important contemporary innovations in the field has been the extension of psychoanalytic investigation to age groups rarely treated by Freud. The work of people such as Melanie Klien, Winnicott, and even Anna Freud, has made it possible to provide more depth and scope to psychoanalytic theory as it relates to the development of the ego.
One individual whose contribution to developmental theory has often been overlooked (despite his voluminous writings) has been Jacques Lacan. It needs to be pointed out here that while the developmental expansions of Klein and Winnicott are those of ego psychology which focus on the "healthy ego," and ways to strengthen the ego, these should not be confused with the developmental notions of Lacan. Lacan's philosophical roots are structuralism and existentialism, life perspectives that are somewhat antipathetical to the more socially-oriented perspectives of the ego psychologists.
In this regard, Lacan characterizes the work of ego psychologists as little more than societal brainwashing whereby analysts--as the priests of societal values--convince the mind to obey social modes and norms of behavior. Lacan views the ego as translatable to the facet of mind that organizes defenses against revealing unconscious messages. It is a distorting machine that needs correction not strengthening.
In this report, the essential ideas and perspectives provided by Lacan regarding the nature of the unconscious are reviewed and discussed. Where relevant, Lacan's ideas are compared to Freudian concepts. Also, Lacan's contributions to the psychoanalytic theory and criticisms of his work are exami...