Reading Comprehension

The extent to which French psychiatrist Jacques Lacan has had a significant impact on the modern field of psychoanalysis has been the subject of some debate. Harvard University professor and clinical psychologist Annie Rogers seeks to distill Lacan's opaque concepts into theories that can be applied practically in psychotherapy. In her analysis, Rogers claims that Lacan's contributions have been both undervalued and misconstrued. She concedes that Lacan's unique, idiosyncratic linguistic style has led to the dismissal of his writings by many psychoanalysts. Doubt about Lacan's authority is compounded by the fact that most respected psychoanalysts give credence to formal clinical case studies-scholarly work that Lacan's writings fail to reference. Still, Rogers credits Lacan with uncovering the methods by which the unconscious manifests itself through language. She has applied Lacanian theory in her practice of psychotherapy to treat victims of abuse.

Dylan Evans, a psychoanalyst who argues that Lacan's theories lack a sound scientific basis, has concluded that the application of Lacanian thought is more detrimental than it is beneficial to patients of psychotherapy. Evans' concern is Lacan's definition of "The Real"; this definition, according to Evans, inhibits patients from reaching a true understanding of themselves. Evans contends that Lacan's definition of The Real as "the impossible" (something that is both unimaginable and unattainable) is injurious, as it divorces the idea of conventional reality from The Real. Evans eventually asserts that the very entrance into language, the attempt to state The Real in words, signifies an irrevocable separation from The Real itself and is therefore impractical for the purposes of psychotherapy. Evans found that his patients experienced anxiety as a result of their inability to mentally differentiate between the real and the imaginary-a distinction which, owing to the limitations of language, can never be realized through conversation.

Despite the fact that Lacan's ideas are not always met with unqualified approval, it is true that Lacan was the first to suggest that knowledge is constructed on the basis of linguistic structures that organize not only our conscious, but also our unconscious lives. Evans' criticism of Lacan is challenged by Rogers' ability to effectively translate and apply the distinctive logic of Lacan's thinking to achieve successful results. Still, Rogers deviates slightly from Lacan, who was a Freudian thinker, in that her application of Lacanian thought undercuts Freud's emphasis on the bodily causes of behavior. Rogers instead focuses on the ways in which a human subject can use language to understand his or her relationships with others.

The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?


(A) Lacan's influence has been more significant in the field of psychotherapy than in the field of psychoanalysis.

(B) Evans' criticism of Lacanian theory discredits Rogers' conclusion about its applicability.

(C) Lacan's ideas were unprecedented and can be successfully implemented in the field of psychotherapy.

(D) Rogers' successful use of Lacanian psychoanalysis with victims of abuse proves that she has studied Lacan more than Evans has.

(E) Lacan's ideas were influential, but ultimately theoretical and impractical

(A) Lacan's influence has been more significant in the field of psychotherapy than in the field of psychoanalysis. Too broad, I think

(B) Evans' criticism of Lacanian theory discredits Rogers' conclusion about its applicability. Does not fit with the info about Rogers's successes

(C) Lacan's ideas were unprecedented and can be successfully implemented in the field of psychotherapy. fits with the last paragraph; "Lacan was the first" and "apply the distinctive logic to achieve successful results"

(D) Rogers' successful use of Lacanian psychoanalysis with victims of abuse proves that she has studied Lacan more than Evans has. I don't think we can make any judgments about the amount of studying

(E) Lacan's ideas were influential, but ultimately theoretical and impractical Does not fit with the information about Rogers's successes

tough one....got it wrong

As in the 2nd para "Evans contends that Lacan's definition of The Real as "the impossible" (something that is both unimaginable and unattainable) is injurious, as it divorces the idea of conventional reality from The Real. Evans eventually asserts that the very entrance into language, the attempt to state The Real in words, signifies an irrevocable separation from The Real itself and is therefore impractical for the purposes of psychotherapy", I inferred C cant be the right choice.

So chose E.

Can someone help explaining it further..

Jaswal,

This question can be difficult because it requires you to determine the author's opinion. The majority of this passage discusses the opinions of Rogers and Evans, not those of the author.

The only sentence that presents the author's opinion is the first sentence of the last paragraph. Although his methods and expression of thought are not always well received, Lacan was the first to suggest that even our unconscious cannot escape the effects of language...

E is wrong becoz, it is more of a summary of Evans' opinion of Lacan, not the author's. This passage provides two different interpretations and uses of Lacanian theory. In the end, the author favors Rogers', mentioning her ability to effectively translate and apply the idiosyncratic logic of Lacan's thinking. This indicates that the author does not believe Lacan's ideas were completely impractical.

Hope this helps....

jaiswalamrita wrote:tough one....got it wrong

As in the 2nd para "Evans contends that Lacan's definition of The Real as "the impossible" (something that is both unimaginable and unattainable) is injurious, as it divorces the idea of conventional reality from The Real. Evans eventually asserts that the very entrance into language, the attempt to state The Real in words, signifies an irrevocable separation from The Real itself and is therefore impractical for the purposes of psychotherapy", I inferred C cant be the right choice.

So chose E.

Can someone help explaining it further..