PSY446 LACANIAN PSYCHOANALYSIS: BASIC CONCEPTS

Course Code:2330446
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week):3 (3.00 - 0.00)
ECTS Credit:7.5
Department:Psychology
Language of Instruction:English
Level of Study:Undergraduate
Course Coordinator:
Offered Semester:Fall and Spring Semesters.

Course Objectives

This course is designed as an introduction to the work of Jacques Lacan. Lacan, who introduced Freudian psychoanalysis to France, insisted upon a “return to Freud,” to correct what he saw as a derailment of Freud’s intent by his followers. Through the medium of his own genius he extended Freud’s thought by making use of the linguistic science and the structuralist point of view that Freud did not have access to, but which - Lacan asserts - were immanent in his work. 

In this course, it will be elaborated that what Lacan studied in order to contribute to the Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory and the concepts of Lacanian psychoanalysis. The aim of this course is to help students getting a sense of Lacanian psychoanalysis.


Course Content

The course aims at attaining a basic understanding of the theoretical and clinical contributions of Jacques Lacan to psychoanalysis,art,philosophy and politics. Basic theoretical concepts such as the three registers of the imaginary, the symbolic and the real along with barred subject in four discourses will be reviewed. Besides consideration of the capability of psychoanalytic concepts to interpret daily news,films and clinical phenomena,the nature of studying unconscious within scientific perspective will also be covered.


Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, it can be expected to: 

+Get a sense of the work of Jacques Lacan,

+Understand the basic Lacanian concepts,

+Explore how Lacan studied the cases of Freud,

+Understand how psychoanalysis evolved and how Lacan contributed to the psychoanalytic tradition


Program Outcomes Matrix

Level of Contribution
#Program Outcomes0123
1Solid background in basic theories and approaches in psychology.
2Skills to obtain and interpret new information in the light of acquired theoretical knowledge.
3Skills to follow both national and international publications and developments in the discipline.
4Basic applied skills and knowledge of the various disciplines of psychology that do not require specialization.
5Awareness of the value of continuing educational practices such as in-service training, seminars, and conferences to keep career-relevant knowledge and skills up-to-date.
6Skills to conduct research based on basic knowledge related to testing and measurement, research methods, and statistics. That is, skills related to forming research hypotheses, designing the research, collecting data, applying basic statistical analysis, and reporting.
7Knowledge and skills about conducting research and practice by adhering to ethical guidelines.
8Skills in oral and written communication both in Turkish and English.
9Skills to work in teams that involve disciplinary and interdisciplinary projects.
10Critical thinking skills in following the psychological literature together with the psychology-related information appearing in popular media.
11Skills to generate practical and culture-sensitive solutions to problems.
12Awareness of societal, environmental, and economic factors in professional practice and research.
13Skills to lead and pioneer in the profession of psychology, either in academia or professional practice.
14Skills in independent and team work.

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution