Psychoanalysis may seem complex because of the knots you create, but if you undo them, you can make the most of it through literary figures. One of these concepts is the Borrome node, a wonderful way to explain how we work.
To approach the conception of the Borromean node is to dely into Lacanian psychoanalysis, which explores various aspects of the emotions, thought and behavior of the individual, and even his relationship with reality.
- Jacques Marie Emile Lacan.
- A early-century French psychoanalyst and psychiatrist.
- Was one of the most important figures of contemporary French structuralism.
- His theories led to rejection and adherence.
- Was linked to the Freudian movement and came to generate tensions.
- With the International Psychoanalytic Association; in fact.
- He eventually distanced himself and founded the Freudian School of Paris in 1964.
His contributions to psychoanalysis were related to philosophy, linguistics and art. He has rubbed shoulders with artists such as André Breton and Salvador Dali, and has immersed himself in the thinking of Heidegger, Strauss and Hegel. His work is highly controversial, as some claim that he does not follow Freudian roots; however, Lacan himself chose to return to Freud. He argued that the analyst is not a neutral listener and has focused on unconscious desire and pleasure.
“The unconscious is structured like a language. ” -Jacques Lacan-
A three-ring interlocking constitution is called the Borromeo node; the rule says that if one of them breaks, the others are released. The concept comes from the heraldic symbol of the Borromi family.
Lacan spoke of this knot in psychoanalysis to shape the structure of the speaking being, divided into the following parts:
So it’s a topology. Lacan suggested in his book Father’s Names, that the three records are present in each subject, and that their knot is fundamental to make the subject’s reality coherent, maintaining one discourse and a social connection with the other. different ways of knotting determine the psychic structure.
At one point in Lacan’s theory, only three records were present in Borromeo’s node, at another time, Lacan added a fourth record: it was the sinthome, which would unite the real, the imaginary and the symbolic.
Thus, the sinthome would help the subject anchor it in such a way that it connects to reality and adapts, so it functions as an enclave that, once liberated, leads to the appearance of a psychosis.
Another essential concept associated is that of the “name of the father”, which acts as a fundamental law, being an essential signifier for the union of the three records. Subsequently, Lacan reveals the paternal function as an anchor of the symbolic activity of the individual, which is imposed by law.
In addition, we can associate the knot with object a, because it is the other part of desire that would make us feel as if something is missing in our lives, so it is linked to loss. Thus, the subject, in addition to being structured by the three records, is governed by impulses.
Pulses are covered by language and lead the individual to seek his object of desire. If we satisfy the desire, we will come to pleasure; if this satisfaction does not occur, anxiety occurs. Finally, when we oppose reality, the ghost appears.
In short, the Borromeo node represents the links that make up our psychic structure. Symbolism tells us that the world is structured according to laws that regulate interactions and are deeply linked to language; imagination has to do with the specular image of the body, which allows us to identify ourselves; and reality is what has to do with existence, with the insignificant and difficult to express in words.
Thus, depending on how our knot is knotted or not, our psychic structure will be one or the other. In addition, sinthome would appear as a fourth record that would prevent the development of psychosis-related behaviors. Definitely a fascinating analogy to understand how our mind works.