Lacanian Psychoanalysis

The Lacanian Psychoanalysis theory is a term coined from renown, French psychoanalyst; Jacques Lacan. Lacan conducted research into the theory 'Freudian Psychoanalysis', focusing largely on the deep structures and infant sexuality aspects of Freud's work, later publishing his own updated interpretation on Freud theory.

Lacan suggested that during the ages ranging between six and eighteen months, the infant experienced the 'Mirror Phase'. During the mirror phase the child sees its own reflection; generally in a mirror, and somehow realises that what they are seeing is themselves. Lacan believed that an infant's ability to identify with their reflection, is a factor behind the infant's emerging perceptions of selfhood. However, due to the fact that the infant's overestimation of their strengths projected to them by their reflection; creating a 'perfect image' interpretation of themselves, does not match with their real life physical vulnerabilities and limitations, the child struggles with their first identity crisis.
This 'perfect image' causes envy and dislike as the child can never truly aspire to the 'hyped-up' fantasy. A sense of separation occurs due to the child taking in the reflection and looking at its actual self. The infant contrasts what it is, with what it sees in the 'ego ideal', later casting itself as inferior. This further agitates the difference between the two and cements the trauma of self-loathing and the desire to become this unattainable fantasy.

The child's reflections deceives them. One way is that the reflection does not reflect the child's feelings, causing further confusion in the child as this reflection does not represent their emotional vulnerabilities. The reflection also fails to highlight the child's lack of independence. In the mirror, the child stands as its own entity, falsely projecting independence the infant does not yet have.
The motivation to feel connected with this ego-ideal, represents a tension between non-identity and identity; one may argue that this draws comparison to Freud's life and death drive theory.
Lacan believed that the child would continue to progress, eventually reaching a stage where this ego-ideal emerges as a 'unconscious construction'. Lacan called this the 'hommelette'. Lacan then suggests that even in adulthood, discomfort can be brought around by thinking of themselves as 'whole individuals'. Self-imagination continues throughout their lives, contributing to a narcissistic fascination, or discomfort from the thoughts that 'this ego-ideal still does not look like me'.