[Distress and anxiety in the psychopathology of Pierre Janet]

Abstract

For P. Janet, there exists a progressive evolution in behaviours. Reflex at the start, with immediate response, they become delayed with secondary behaviours appearing grafted upon primary behaviours. They are the feelings which allow a more and more precise adaptation to physical and social reality. Having started, as did Freud, from psychical traumatism P. Janet is not interested in subconscious but particularly studies the psychological deficiencies which traumatism causes or brings to the foreground. He makes an exhaustive study of those deficiencies under the name of feeling of lack and void. Neurotics, unable to assimilate or master their traumatisms, lose their sense of the present, of reality, and of Action. They only live in day-dreams and abstract ideas. This deviation of behaviour reaches its, pitch with the melancholic. The melancholic, riveted to his past can no longer change as is the case with the patients of Minkowski. It is every day the same old story. Any idea having to do with the future is received as abominable and catastrophic. Consequently, everything appears to them as deadly and they have such a fright of action that it results in systematical reversal of action. Instead of living, they only long for death. As in Suzan Urban's theatre, as described by Bingwanger, the melancholic has the behaviour of a trapped animal. He desperately looks for a way out and turns from side to side, but finds himself systematically trapped back once more. He looks passive and inhibited, but here we have to deal with an active inhibition. The melancholic is not resigned. He would like to come out of his mental situation, but is unable to react.