Eros and Psychotic Despair

Abstract

The author suggests that Freud’s theory of sexuality is not adequate to explain the issue of psychosis. The sexual drive presupposes construction of the unity of the subject, whereas psychosis takes root in a period of life when the ego is not yet integrated. In a neurotic subject, suffering is always an expression of sexuality. By contrast, in a psychotic person, even aspects explicitly connected with sexuality represent an attempt to escape from despair. In the former, it is a question of pleasure, and in the latter of relief. In light of these considerations, the author discusses the problem of erotomania.