Psychoanalysis

telepathy, gossip and/or science?

John Forrester

pp. 169-187

in: James Donald (ed), Psychoanalysis and cultural theory, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 1991

Abstract

Some brief introductory remarks are in order to place my chapter in the context of this series, and also to give some idea of the links between the enigmatic words in my title. I shall not be applying cultural theory to psychoanalysis, nor shall I be deriving cultural theory from psychoanalysis. Rather, I shall be giving a psychoanalytic account of the culture of psychoanalysis: a psychoanalysis of psychoanalysis. I should also add that when I use the term "psychoanalysis", I am referring to a discursive practice — a practice guided by and infused with theory: the practice of two people talking to one another, within the rules laid down in order to define that practice.