Lu yingjun

Journal of Nanjing Normal University

[Abstract] Baiang is one of the most influential thinkers and practitioners of psychoanalytic object relations in the middle and late 20th century, and he is the main representative of the post-Klein school. He inherited, expanded and deepened Klein's thought of projective identity, and developed it into a unique theory of interpersonal interaction containers. Byan believes that accommodation is the earliest way of communication between mother and baby, and it is also an interactive mode between patients and analysts. In this process, the mother or analyst plays the role of a container, transforming the β element projected by the baby or patient into α element.

[Keywords:] Baiang; Alpha element; β element; Container; Content content

Wilfred R. Bion (1897—1979) is a famous British psychoanalyst and a leader of the second generation of Klein School. Stephen A. Mitchell pointed out: "Klein's theory and concept are clearly called' Klein School', which is mainly expanded and explained by wilfred Byung, so that contemporary Klein thought should be more accurately called Klein-Bing School." (Stephen A. Mitchell, 2007, p. 124) melanie klein "is one of the leading figures who made the greatest contribution to the development of psychoanalytic theory after Freud" (Wang Guofang, 2007). Byan accepted her personal analysis from 1945, which lasted for 8 years. This experience had an important influence on Byrne's later becoming a psychoanalytic theorist and analyst. Brian Deng, the biographer of Bourne, regards the meeting between Klein and Bourne as "the collision between the female world and the male world". Klein's analysis awakened his great creativity, which accompanied him to the end of his life. "(Bleandonu, 1994, page 2) Bion put forward many innovative ideas in both individual psychoanalysis and group process, which greatly influenced the development of these two fields. In the aspect of individual psychoanalysis, he put forward the container theory to explain how the encounter between different subjects transforms psychological events into meaningful experiences, thus promoting the growth of personality. His container-content structure model can be regarded as the forerunner of intersubjective debate in psychoanalysis.

First, the ideological origin of psychoanalytic container theory

Bion's container theory is based on the observation of some innate unbearable psychological states. This observation is not entirely new. Freud discovered this phenomenon more than 100 years ago, and put forward the theory of repression to explain the unbearable psychological state in detail. In Freud's view, the unbearable psychological state is often excluded from the consciousness, suppressed to the subconscious and continues to play a role there. Once an idea or thought is suppressed, it is no longer subject to the rules of controlling consciousness and rational thinking, and gets rid of the criticism of other ideas and the correction of subsequent experience. However, repressed thoughts will continue to affect psychology, and its strength comes from the fact that it is suppressed, so the consciousness and perception system cannot adjust it.

There are some similarities between Bion's container theory and Freud's repression theory, but its more direct root is Klein's projected identity theory. Freud believed that unbearable thoughts were pushed into the subconscious, while Klein emphasized that the unbearable parts of self were projected into objects. From 65438 to 0946, Klein put forward the concept of projective identity for the first time, arguing that babies project the split parts of themselves and internal objects onto external objects, so that external objects can identify with these projected parts in subconscious fantasies, thus achieving the purpose of controlling objects. At first, Klein imagined that projected identity is an aggressive object relationship, that is, projecting parts that you don't like or getting rid of them are dangerous, or attacking and destroying external bad objects. But it didn't take her long to realize that the emotion of love can also be projected on external objects in fantasy, thus creating a connection between love and kindness. By integrating it again, the individual gains a way to build a powerful and beautiful object in his inner world. In this way, the scope of projected identity is expanded, which is no longer just a simple defense mechanism, but a process of establishing a relationship with the object. However, in Klein's theory, projection identity is completely operated in subconscious fantasy, and its purpose is to eliminate inner anxiety and danger.

Byan found in his own theoretical research and analytical practice that in the process of projecting identity, subconscious fantasy is often accompanied by the desire to arouse the object to produce a projected psychological state in reality. He called this phenomenon reality projection identity. The fact that projected identity has a realistic component means that the ability to split a certain aspect of personality and project it into an object requires a certain degree of (usually subconscious) obedience to the object. Therefore, the success of this process depends not only on the psychological state of the projector, but also on the psychological state of the projected object. Therefore, the psychological state of the object can affect the use of projective identity by the subject, and then affect its psychological state. This became the breakthrough point of Bourne's container theory. For the projector, the "realistic" projection of unbearable psychological state creates a possibility that they can still be tolerated by other people's psychology, and others will return them to the projector after accepting these projections and transforming them into more tolerable forms. This interaction between the projector and the receiver leads to the reversal of the process of personality division and projection to the object, and the division and projection become injectivity and integration. This is what Bourne called the container theory. In container theory, projective identity is not only a defense mechanism, but also a way of communication between people, the main form of object relationship and the way of psychological change. As a defense, projected identity makes individuals feel away from their unwanted and frightening content. As a mode of interpersonal communication, projected identity is a process of inducing a feeling consistent with oneself in another person, thus producing a feeling that is considered consistent with this person; Projective identity, as an object relationship, is a means to establish relationships with some separated objects; Finally, projected identity, as a way of psychological transformation, is a process in which another person psychologically processes the emotions that an individual struggles with, and then internalizes them again in the form of correction.

Second, the β element and α element

In the paper Psychoanalysis of Thinking published by 1962, Byron first put forward the concept of "inclusive function", also known as alpha function or dream-work-alpha. Byrne uses this word to describe the process of transforming an unbearable psychological state into an unbearable complex process and transforming an unprocessed physiological feeling into something with psychological significance. (Rafael, 2003, pp. 26-27) "Alpha function acts on any sensory impression and emotion perceived by patients. Once the alpha function is successful, it will produce the alpha factor, which is suitable for storage and dreaming. If the alpha function is blocked and cannot work, the patient's sensory impression and mood will remain unchanged. I call it the beta factor. " (Bion, 1962a, page 6)

(a) beta element

1948, Bion proposed a prototype system structure in the article Group Experience. He said, "I imagine primitive psychology as a system in which there is no difference between body and mind or mind." It is a kind of matrix, from which discontinuous emotions can be generated. At first, these emotions seem to be-on the psychological level, according to psychological research-only loosely related to each other. " (Bion, 196 1, pp.10/-102) Later, Beyon replaced the original psychological system with the psychological part that constitutes the β element. He pointed out: "The word β element represents the earliest matrix from which ideas can be born. It has the characteristics of inanimate objects and spiritual objects, and there is no difference in any form. Thought is a thing, and things are thoughts and have personality. " (Bion, 1963, page 22) At first, Bion defined the β element as an "undigested or dreamy fact that has not been transformed by the inclusion function", and later defined it as an "unreal or dead object". (Bion, 1992, p. 133) In his view, β element is first of all some unnamed or undigested sensory impressions, which will lead to frustration. For example, they may be feelings of depression and persecution and guilt, or something related to a sense of disaster. "undigested" means that β element is different from α element, they are not phenomena, but things themselves. Bion used the word "phenomenon" to summarize Kant's primary and secondary nature. As for the word "thing itself", like Kant, it refers to an object that human beings cannot know "(Bion, 1962a, p. 100). β element is not in a state where it can be thought, expressed in words or words, and can not produce meaning, but can be transformed. It should be emphasized that Beyonce's nonsense about β element is from the point of view that it cannot be considered, and it is not really meaningless. Therefore, the meaninglessness of β element is quite unique, which is reflected in its great effectiveness. It is different from the meaningless of a series of random sounds or gestures, because the truly meaningless things will not have any influence on the psychology of the receiver, while the β element has a very strong influence on the receiver. They play the role of some kind of hypnotic suggestion and are psychological foreign objects. These foreign objects belong to their own category and do not belong to any isomorphism, so they are not limited by other components of conceptual isomorphism. This gives them an absoluteness and is not criticized by any doubts. Their effectiveness and meaninglessness are the result of their narcissistic characteristics, and also the result that they are not related to other concepts and are not influenced by other concepts as absolute concepts. Their meaningless source is also their effective source. β element is regarded as an internal bad thing in the individual's mind and can only be dealt with through excretion. However, when these discharges are too much to be treated by the containment function, it may lead to serious diseases. For example, in the body, when β element is discharged to some parts of the body, it will cause functional or psychosomatic diseases, and its symptoms may involve splitting emotional experience, and sleep disorder may also be related to excessive β element. In the aspect of relationship, if the operation of projecting identity is successful, then the receiver will experience the emotion of division. In some cases, especially in borderline patients, projection occurs in different people, so each receiver carries a set of β elements. In psychosis, positive psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, may be the direct manifestation of β element. However, Bion emphasized that β element also has potential therapeutic function. It is precisely because of the existence of β element that "mental patients have the ability to arouse the emotions of analysts." "His association is trying to trigger an explanation or other reaction. Beta elements have little to do with the needs of psychoanalysis and interpretation, but have more to do with the need to create some kind of emotional connection. " (Bion, 1962a, page 24) Because of its alpha function, analysts are expected to accept these beta elements and play a role as thinkers of these primitive ideas.

(2) Alpha Element and Alpha Barrier

Alpha element is the product of alpha function, including "visual image, auditory mode and olfactory mode, which is suitable for dreaming, conscious subconscious thinking, dreaming, contact disorder and memory" (Bion, 1962a, p. 26), and it is a "real, living, realistic and kind object" (Bion, P.26). They exist in an extractable form and can be used for the brain to establish necessary connections in the psychological work of subconscious, pre-consciousness and consciousness, such as dreaming, thinking, restraint, recalling, forgetting, mourning and learning from experience. Alpha element is essentially different from beta element. First of all, α element can carry and transmit meaning, while β element does not. Secondly, α elements can be combined or linked together, just like atoms are linked together in a special way to form molecules, while β elements cannot be linked to each other or anything else, just like atoms in inert gases, which are destined to remain separated forever. From this, we can infer that in Beyonce's theory, the integrity and thoughtfulness of meaning are related to connection. In other words, an idea is meaningful if it can be related to other ideas. On the other hand, because alpha elements are interrelated, they are not absolute, but only part of the same thought body. Their influence on psychology is essentially more related to the connection with other alpha elements.

With the proliferation of α elements, they organize and gather together to form a contact barrier, which Byung named α screen. Alpha obstacle is a concept he borrowed from Freud's theory. Freud used this term to describe the neurophysiological unit that was later called synapse, while Bayonne used it to represent a structure with dual functions of contact and barrier. The formation of α barrier is realized by the connection of α elements. Whether in sleep or awake, the alpha function will transform the sensory impressions related to emotional experience into alpha elements. In the process of the gradual diffusion of these alpha elements, they will converge to form a network, which acts as the dividing line between conscious and subconscious elements, separating external reality from internal reality. The properties of alpha barrier depend on the properties of alpha elements and the relationship between them. Alpha elements in the contact barrier layer can be consistent and aggregated; It is possible to form a narrative form in an orderly manner, just as it happened in a dream; It can also be combined in logical or geometric order. Contact barrier can play the role of permeable membrane, prevent fantasy from being annihilated by various facts in real life, and at the same time make contact with reality free from the interference of internal emotions. In other words, it actually plays the role of expressing reasons, thus making thinking and communication possible. According to the nature of the transition from conscious to subconscious or from subconscious to conscious, alpha disorder may affect the characteristics of memory and some special memory types. It can also determine the nature of defense, determine the relationship between conscious behavior and subconscious, or suppress it, or allow it to become conscious for thinking that may reveal the truth. Beyonce's concept of alpha barrier has a great influence on the school of object relations, just as Siegel, a famous psychoanalyst at the same time, put forward that the formation of symbolic ability borrowed Beyonce's point of view. She believes that if the symbolic function is normal and complete, then a person can make conscious symbolic contact with his subconscious, and the subconscious itself is still the subconscious.

Third, the concept of accommodation function.

Bion's theory does not clearly and strictly define the meaning of alpha function, but describes its process. He said: "(Baby) ... is surrounded by painful feces, guilt, fear of death, extreme greed, meanness and urine, and it is necessary to excrete these bad things into nonexistent breasts. In this way, a good object will turn no breasts into breasts, feces and urine into milk, dying fears and anxieties into vitality and confidence, greed and meanness into love and generosity, and the bad nature absorbed by babies is now transformed into good nature and returned. " (Bion, 1963, p. 3 1) From this description, we can sum up the basic steps of alpha function: first, the mother receives and absorbs the unbearable parts of the self, object, emotion and unprocessed sensory experience projected by the baby to her in fantasy; Secondly, in order to be able to think and understand them, the mother must endure the direct influence of these projections on her spirit and body, which is what Bing calls transformation. Next, the baby's experience is psychologically transformed into her own thoughts. Mother must gradually return these things to the baby in the form of disinfection and digestion, and at the same time show her attitude and way of treating the baby. In the practice of psychoanalysis, Bion called this last process "publication", which is what we usually call explanation.

Bion pointed out that if an analyst wants to know whether he has given a true explanation of the patient's symptoms, the key is to see whether the explanation describes those phenomena that are obvious to the analyst but not noticed by the patient. The reason why patients have these problems is mainly because they lack consciousness, are controlled by their subconscious delusions, and do not have the ability to identify problems that need to be explained. Analysts can use their alpha function to transform patients from beta elements projected by delusions into simple symbols of delusions, that is, things that can be rationally thought. Of course, the analyst's explanation mentioned by Bion is not to give the patient an emotional experience in essence, but to enable him to obtain something that he could not experience before. Therefore, the analyst's role is mainly to accept the patient's β element and transform it into an understandable and empirical form. Whether the patient really thinks, experiences or dreams about these contents is beyond the competence of analysts, who mainly rely on the patient's tendency to judge.

In normal development, the baby reflects the different parts of the mother, and at the same time regards the mother's regulatory function as a part of the object. The injection of the inclusive function increases the baby's endurance, enables him to wait and endure setbacks such as lack of breasts, and further develops no breast into an alpha element that the inclusive function can handle. According to Bayon, psychoanalytic therapy activities depend at least in part on the degree to which psychoanalysts adapt to patients. Effective analysis should not only help the patient to endure the current psychological state, but also help him to better endure the possible psychological state in the future without the help of external objects. In this way, "the ability to tolerate setbacks has enabled psychology to develop a means of thinking, and with its help, the setbacks endured by people themselves have become more tolerable." (Bion, 1962b, p. 309) On the other hand, if a mother's personality is insensitive and can't play the role of accommodating and actually correct the anxiety of the baby or patient, then she will greatly dampen the baby or patient's initial efforts to deal with his environment with the thinking process. In other words, when "the interaction between the infant's immature consciousness and the mother's fantasy collapses through projective identity" (Bion, 1962b, p. 309), the normal development of thought and thinking will be seriously affected for a long time. In this case, "the unfinished task left by the destruction of the mother's fantasy ability is imposed on [the baby's] immature consciousness" (Bion, 1962b, p. 3 10), which may seriously damage the cognitive development and the development of alpha function.