From symbolizing to non‐symbolizing within the scope of a link: from dreams to shouts of terror caused by an absent presence

Abstract

This article examines pathologies in the creation of symbols and those pathologies’ ensuing consequences. It relies mainly on the vertices provided by Bion and Meltzer. It studies the different forms in which these lapses occur in symbolic processes, where they may create vacuums in symbolic networks or give rise to ‘lies’, and even destroy or de‐symbolize established symbols. Based on Bion’s concept of the minus‐contained (‐contained), I propose that when a symbol is attacked, a particular mental structure with its own peculiar characteristics comes about. This structure not only creates a vacuum in that mental zone, it ends up damaging the entire symbolization process. This contribution aims to describe that structure from the metapsychological point of view – contained. I end by synthesizing the possible widening of what could be a Bionian negative grid.