Psychodynamic Approach to Understanding Anorexia Nervosa Cover Image

Psihodinamski pristup razumevanju anoreksije nervoze
Psychodynamic Approach to Understanding Anorexia Nervosa

Author(s): Maja Milić
Subject(s): Psychoanalysis
Published by: Centar za ženske studije & Centar za studije roda i politike, Fakultet političkih nauka, Beograd
Keywords: anorexia nervosa; pleasure principle; Lacan; jouissance; psychotherapy

Summary/Abstract: Anorexia nervosa is a diagnostic category that is more frequently found in younger women. In its basis is the difficulty of experiencing and mentalizing tension inside one’s body. It occurs due to the conflicts arising from intrap- sychic processes, on the one hand, and the penetration of patriarchal norms on the other. This paper relates anorexia nervosa to Lacan’s jouissance or the so-called painful pleasure. Lacan’s theory of understanding female sexuali- ty is important for the feminist (psychotherapeutic) approach. How young women suffering from anorexia nervosa form a relationship with their body, and the degree to which we can speak of their capacity to achieve a pleasu- re principle is addressed in the second part of the paper. Finally, the paper offers a psychotherapeutic understanding of the directions that need to be followed when working with these clients.

  • Issue Year: 2020
  • Issue No: 24
  • Page Range: 143-158
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Serbian