Jacques Lacan

Woah! Read up on this ages ago, but I didn't get chance to share it.

Jacques Lancan, like Sigmund Freud, is known as a Psychoanalyst. He also uses stages to explain how, when and why a child develops and relates this theory to the unconscious mind.

The First stage, from the age 0-6months is known as 'The Real' stage.
At this stage Lacan says that the child has no self awareness, believing that they and their mother are in fact one person. During this time Lacan also says that a child has no need for language as their mother provides all it's needs without having to communicate.

Next is the 'Mirror' stage. 6-18months. This, I think , can be taken literally, as it is when a child develops a sense of self (I/EGO). The child begins to recognise him/herself as an independent person , separate to it's mother.

The Phallus stage has similarities with Freud's theory. This is where a child will battle for their mothers attention and wishes to become her desire. Unlike Freud's theory , this is for both male and female infants. Following this period it is suggested that their Father will put a stop to this behaviour, this is said to be Castration. Castration is a critical time for children as this is when a child starts to develop speech. Lacan suggests that once their father demonstrates his power, the child realises that their mother does not solely belong to them, and that they need to be able to speak to communicate with her and with others, so that their needs can be met. At this time, children also learn about rules eg 'Fathers Rule' and children put this information into use by following the rules of language.

I can see why Lacan has set these stages and I believe that there is alot of truth in what he says, however this theory can only relate to the Nuclear family. I would be interested to know whether the same kind of stages are followed within a single parent family???