Psychoanalysis and Structuration Theory: The Social Logic of Identity

This article examines the sociological appropriation of psychoanalysis in the work of Anthony Giddens. It describes how Giddens uses psychoanalysis as a theoretical and strategic resource for the sociology of identity. The paper comprises an outline of the axes and problematizations of subjective id...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sociology (Oxford) 2002-08, Vol.36 (3), p.559-576
Main Author: Groarke, Steven
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Concept of being
Defence mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms
Giddens, Anthony
History, theory and methodology
Identity
Identity theory
Interpretation
Logic
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalytic Interpretation
Security
Self
Self Concept
Selfconcept
Separation anxiety
Social identity
Social theories
Sociological theories
Sociological Theory
Sociology
Structuration
Structuration theory
Subjectivity
Theory
Unconscious mind
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Summary:This article examines the sociological appropriation of psychoanalysis in the work of Anthony Giddens. It describes how Giddens uses psychoanalysis as a theoretical and strategic resource for the sociology of identity. The paper comprises an outline of the axes and problematizations of subjective identity in structuration theory. On the one hand, the three axes of cognition, competence and biography; on the other hand, the four problems of trust (how to believe in the world); knowledge (how to appropriate our belief in the world); anxiety (how to defend our sense of the world); and morals (how best to manage ourselves in the world). From this I draw three main conclusions: (1) Giddens indudes trust as well as knowledge along the axis of cognition; (2) he views operations of defence as achievements of competent subjects; and (3) he understands the narrative of selfidentity as a type of defence mechanism, If these conclusions are correct, then structuration theory will continue to treat affectivity as a problem of representation.
ISSN:0038-0385
1469-8684
DOI:10.1177/0038038502036003004