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00:00:00 – 00:24:05
The video delves into Freud's concept of sublimation, highlighting its application and nuanced understanding. Sublimation is the process of transforming instinctual drives, especially sexual and aggressive impulses, into socially acceptable activities. The speaker discusses different interpretations, including Karman's idea which emphasizes intrinsic satisfaction in the activity rather than external gains. Through various examples, the speaker illustrates how some individuals pursue professions or hobbies superficially for social prestige or narcissistic gratification rather than genuine interest. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by individuals with borderline and narcissistic tendencies in achieving successful sublimation, suggesting they often focus on superficial interests. Additionally, the speaker contrasts Freud's complex sublimation theories with practical perspectives, underscoring the importance of intrinsic enjoyment in truly fulfilling activities.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the speaker introduces the concept of sublimation, originally proposed by Freud, and discusses its implications and practical applications. The speaker explains that sublimation involves redirecting drives from their explicit sexual aims to other, more culturally and socially accepted goals, thus providing satisfaction in a way that does not clash with societal norms. Examples include using aggression in socially accepted ways such as through sports like boxing. The speaker highlights the challenge in applying the concept practically and clarifies that despite ambiguities in the concept, it can be illuminating in understanding behavior and daily life cases. The segment also mentions the loss of Freud’s work specifically dedicated to sublimation, which leaves some aspects of his ideas on the topic undeveloped.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion focuses on Freud’s concept of sublimation, particularly how individuals channel aggressive or sexual impulses into socially acceptable activities. For instance, someone might redirect their sexual exhibitionism into performing arts like dance. The video further elaborates on Karman’s idea, which adds a nuance to Freud’s theory by suggesting that the sublimatory capacity depends on whether the person finds intrinsic satisfaction in the activity, rather than using the activity to gain other narcissistic gratifications. An example is given of a cosmetic surgeon who pursued a career in medicine, which from a classic viewpoint might be seen as sublimation.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the motivations behind individuals choosing certain professions and their dedication to them. They share an example of a surgeon who pursued the profession not out of genuine interest in medicine, but for the social prestige and financial rewards it provided. This surgeon operated while drunk, showing a lack of commitment to the practice itself. The speaker highlights that true dedication involves finding intrinsic enjoyment in the work, rather than using it merely as a means to achieve narcissistic satisfactions. The discussion also touches on how genuine interest allows one to engage deeply in their work, losing track of time because they are genuinely invested in the activity.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the difference between pursuing an activity out of genuine interest and doing it for superficial reasons. They highlight a patient who aspired to collect ancient art but did not invest time or effort in learning about it, showing a more superficial desire driven by envy and the desire for social status rather than a true passion. Another example mentioned is a patient interested in existentialist philosophy, who frequently talked about it but had only read a few popular works on the subject, indicating a lack of deep engagement. The underlying point is that some activities may appear valuable but may not be a real sublimation if pursued for narcissistic gratification rather than intrinsic interest.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses two examples to illustrate a particular philosophy. The first example is about a patient who constantly talked about existentialist philosophy but had never read any primary existentialist authors and had only read works about the topic. The patient seemed interested in existentialism but didn’t deeply engage with it. The speaker suggests that the patient likely wanted superficial knowledge to impress others and receive narcissistic gratification.
The second example involves a patient who reached a high professional level requiring extensive reading and formal education. Despite this, the patient only read what was necessary for exams and stopped reading altogether after graduating. This indicates that the patient studied solely to achieve the qualification, not because they found pleasure or genuine interest in the subject. The energy invested was aimed at obtaining the title rather than a true engagement with the profession.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion centers on the concept of sublimation and its relation to personal satisfaction and deeper fulfillment. It highlights that if a person truly enjoys an activity for its own sake, they will continue engaging in it even after achieving external rewards such as social prestige or money. The speaker uses personal examples, such as a love for psychoanalysis and reading, to illustrate how genuine pleasure in an activity transcends external gratifications. The segment also touches on the idea from the book “Border Disorders and Pathological Narcissism” that individuals with borderline and narcissistic tendencies may struggle with sublimation, focusing instead on superficial interests for narcissistic gains. This emphasizes that successful sublimation involves finding intrinsic satisfaction beyond external achievements.
00:18:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses their genuine interest in psychoanalysis, contrasting it with past experiences where their pursuits were driven by external validation rather than intrinsic enjoyment. They mention a previous period when they studied music, particularly in an institution valuing classical music and jazz over rock, which led them to engage in activities like playing jazz to fit in culturally, despite not genuinely enjoying it. This distinction highlighted their understanding of sublimation and how it can sometimes be misdirected by societal pressures and the desire for narcissistic gratification.
00:21:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses the concept of sublimation, highlighting that different structures have varying capacities for sublimation. They mention that while some areas in people’s lives are successfully sublimated, others succumb to narcissistic activities. The speaker appreciates how this idea adds a layer to Freud’s concept of sublimation. They contrast it with another concept of sublimation from Seminar 7, which compares sublimation to a potter creating a vessel—representing the creation of a void where enjoyment is found. The speaker finds this perspective interesting but complex and ambiguous, emphasizing the practical applicability and value of the camber perspective on sublimation. They express their enjoyment of this idea and encourage viewers to share their thoughts.