Freudian Repression

Conversation Creating the Unconscious

Michael Billig author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:4th Nov '99

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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Freudian Repression cover

This book presents a reinterpretation of Freud to show how language can be expressive and repressive.

Reinterpreting some of Freud's classic case histories, Billig shows how language is both expressive and repressive and sheds light on the question of recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse and the ideology of psychoanalysis. This original book will appeal to a broad interdisciplinary audience.In Freudian Repression, Michael Billig presents an original reformulation of Freud's concept of repression, showing that in his theory of the unconscious he fails to examine how people actually repress shameful thoughts. Drawing on recent insights from discursive psychology, Billig suggests that in learning to speak we also learn what not to say: language is thus both expressive and repressive. He applies this perspective to some of Freud's classic case histories such as 'Dora' and the 'Rat Man' and the great psychologist's own life to show the importance of small words in speech. By focusing on previously overlooked exchanges, even Freud himself can be seen to be repressing. Freudian Repression also offers insights into the debate about recovered memories and the ideological background to psychoanalysis which will guarantee its interdisciplinary appeal to psychologists, language theorists, discourse analysts, students of psychoanalysis, literary studies and sociologists.

'This insightful book is well worth reading.' The Psychologist

ISBN: 9780521650526

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 17mm

Weight: 570g

300 pages