Notes on symbol formation 1

Abstract

The understanding and interpretation of unconscious symbolism is one of the main tools of the psychologist. Often he is faced with the task of understanding and recognizing the meaning not only of a particular symbol but also of the whole process of symbol formation. This applies particularly to work with patients who show a disturbance or inhibition in the formation or free use of symbols, as for instance, psychotic or schizoid patients. In his paper written in 1916, Jones differentiated unconscious symbolism from other forms of "indirect representation". Summarizing Jones's points, one might say that when a desire has to be given up because of conflict and repressed, it may express itself in a symbolical way, and the object of the desire which had to be given up can be replaced by a symbol. In 1930, Melanie Klein raised the problem of inhibition in symbol formation.

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