Autisme et psychanalyse : construction d’un dialogue entre les thèses de M.C. Laznik et E. Laurent

Objective

In the context of the place and the contributions of psychoanalysis to the treatment of autism, I attempt to unpack the concepts of two of the leading thinkers in the French Lacanian psychoanalytical field, namely E. Laurent and M.C. Laznik, in order to locate convergences and divergences between their approaches.

Method

Critical literature review. Reading of works with a Lacanian orientation. Establishment of a dialogue between the works of Laurent and Laznik through the reading of the concept of foreclosure of the hole by F. Schejtman.

Results

The theoretical models proposed by Laurent and Laznik present more convergences than the distances between the schools of psychoanalysis suggest. Among them, the authors seem to locate, like other psychoanalysts, difficulties for autistic subjects regarding the drive circuit, as well as a freedom of the Imaginary in the knot. The divergences are found above all in the type of clinical practice that results from the proposed models, as well as in the relationship between Symbolic and Real.

Discussion

The discussions relate to important points of Laurent's texts, in order to specify the concept of foreclosure of the hole, and to Laznik's texts, in order to unpack the concept of failure of the third time of the drive and her proposal of a specific knot for autism.

Conclusion

The Lacanian reading of Schejtman makes it possible to establish divergences and convergences in the approaches of the cited authors. From this emerges the need for a dialogue within psychoanalysis if we wish to improve our clinical practice.