LAUSR

Freud’s canonical account portrays the birth of psychoanalysis as the result of an inner observation of oneself located beyond the reach of social requirements. Yet an account of psychoanalytic theory that locates it in the context of the relationships in which it is used shows that the image of the intrapersonal relationship created by this theory, is actually a transposition of an interpersonal relationship: the portraying of an intrapersonal relationship thus offers a way to define a situation of interaction between social partners. This transposition allows different strategies of actions, which organize interactions by gauging them against norms of modern ‘contractual’ societies. In this way, the situational and dialogical account developed here locates psychoanalysis in its historical and social context.