Abstract
In this thought-provoking exploration, the author examines Grotstein’s seminal work, “The Seventh Servant: The Implications of a Truth Drive in Bion’s Theory of ‘O’” (2004), and its relevance to the psychoanalytic concepts of truth and lies. Drawing on Bion’s K-link and Klein’s epistemophilia, the paper argues that Grotstein’s concept of a “truth drive” is part of a transformative paradigmatic shift in psychoanalysis, emphasizing a focus on ontology and the process of being with the analysand. The commitment to truth in psychoanalytic practice demands ongoing examination, open-mindedness, and a willingness to embrace bodily sensations, proto-emotions, and new thoughts. Grotstein proposes that the truth drive is a universal human force that compels individuals towards emotional growth and explains why analysands can accept the analyst’s interpretation of painful psychical realities. The intersection between curiosity and evolving ‘O’ exceeds epistemophilia, bridging knowledge and the unknown for optimal truth-seeking. The paper briefly explores the connections between Heidegger’s “Dasein,” “Aletheia,” and Foucault’s “Parrhesia,” further supporting Grotstein’s discovery. Additionally, it addresses the challenge of distinguishing healthy truth pursuit from pathological manifestations and presents a captivating clinical vignette illustrating Grotstein’s response to this question. Finally, the paper delves into Bion’s puzzling observation that all thoughts as ordinarily known are lies, augmenting the notion of universal emotional truth and its complexities in the clinical context.
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A version of this paper was presented Online as part of a series of preconference scientific meetings promoting the Thirteenth International Evolving British Object Relations (EBOR) Conference: Truth and Lies (October 8–9 and 15–16, 2022), sponsored by Northwestern Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.
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Harrang, C. ON GROTSTEIN’S ‘TRUTH’ IN BION’S THEORY OF ‘O’. Am J Psychoanal 83, 476–494 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s11231-023-09427-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s11231-023-09427-5