The Pichon-Riviere link theory

How we communicate or what behaviors we carry out with them or in their presence, among other aspects, greatly affect the type of relationship we have with others.

Taking into account that interpersonal relationships are an element of great importance in our development and that the human being is a gregarious being by nature, being able to bond affectively in a correct way and that allows normative and relatively continuous contact is fundamental.

In fact, already from birth, being able to establish a bond is important, given that after birth there is an absolute dependence of the baby on the adults in charge of it. That is why the study on the mechanisms used to relate to our peers have been the subject of multiple investigations and generated various theories.

Among them we can find the Pichon-Riviere link theory, one of the first psychodynamicists to move from intrapsychic psychology to interpersonal psychology in the field of psychoanalysis.

The link according to Pichon-Riviere

The term "link" is conceptualized by Pichon-Riviere as

the way a person relates to others, establishing a relational structure between both communicators that will be unique between the two of them.

This structure marks the way in which they will interact, establishing which communicative guidelines and which behaviors are acceptable and adaptive in the context of the relationship.

The bond does not refer only to an emotional component but also incorporates both emotional sphere and cognitive and behavioral, modifying through the interaction all these aspects. The resulting structure is dynamic and fluid, varying and being affected by the feedback that the behavior of one produces in the other.

The link is a fundamental element for survival and adaptation to both the social and natural environment, since it allows one to influence the environment while being influenced by it. The existence of links is mainly due to the communication capacity, through which we establish contact with others and learn based on the consequences of our behaviors on they.

Components

According to the link theory, the link is bicorporal, since at a physical level there are two elements in contact (the subject and the other). However, despite being two beings that interact in every bond or relationship, there is at least three components that must be taken into account, the emitting self, the object (considering as such the person or thing with which the link occurs) and the third party, which is understood as the ideal or fantasy built by the self on the object and which indicates how we are going to relate to he.

When establishing a relationship with an object, the subject maintains two links at the same time, an external one with the object itself and an internal one with the unconscious fantasy that is going to be projected on the object and that is going to mark the existence and type of communication.

In a healthy bond, according to Pichon-Riviere, the structure that will emerge from the interaction will be of the spiral type, finding the behavior and communication of the subject with a reaction on the part of the object that is going to give feedback to the first so that its behavior can vary.

Likewise, the object will also modify her behavior based on the subject's performance, the link being a relationship bidirectional in which both elements in communication influence each other dynamically and motivated by needs psychological.

the three D's

For the author of the link theory, the role or role assumed in the bonding interaction is of great importance. When assuming a role, the role that each of the components of the link must have and the fact that they agree on the role assigned to each one must be taken into account.

In a link we can mainly find the figure of the depositor, who is the one who issues the information or conduct, the depositary or recipient thereof and the deposited, the content transmitted or the action taken cape.

Communicate on the link

As we have mentioned, one of the fundamental requirements for establishing a link is the presence of fluid communication between subject and object. Regarding the communicative act, Pichon-Riviere starts from the belief that all communication occurs based on five fundamental principles.

First of all, it highlights that the social affects and structures us from within, forming part of our being. We want and need to connect, being affected and affecting the environment at the same time.

A second principle refers to the fact that the behaviors that we carry out are determined by the most internal. Our unconscious drives us to act communicatively in order to express our needs, drives and desires.

The third of the principles implies that every act or even the absence of it is communicative, and there cannot be an act that does not transmit anything. Each performance and interaction carried out contains a deep meaning that may be hidden.

Another principle refers to the need for dynamism, openness and mutual adaptation between linked people, making it clear that the absence of fluidity and the presence of constant perseveration and repetition is synonymous with pathology.

Lastly, it indicates that all individuals try to communicate at all times, with all mental activity directed towards establishing communication.

Extracting learning: ECRO

Through communication we extract learning that allows us a more adaptive connection. The data extracted from the interaction allows us to generate a scheme with which to organize the concepts so that we can gradually adapt to the changes that reality undergoes.

This scheme works with the concepts acquired throughout our lives to work in the context of interaction and produce changes that modify the world. Thus, we will use the schemes formed in order to influence the environment and make links more functional and adaptive.

the three areas

In the process of interaction between the components of a link, the subject must establish a relationship between his mind, his body and external reality.

These three areas coexist at all times, although there may be a predominance over one or the other depending on how we carry out certain behaviors. According to Pichon-Riviere, whatthat predominates or that is inhibited will mark the personality of the individual, which in turn will greatly affect the linkage capacity and may lead to pathological links.

The psychological field

When establishing a link, the interaction between the linked elements occurs in a concrete context in which the exchange occurs, a context that receives the field name psychological. It is about the context in which the subject communicates with the environment.

The author proposes that from this psychological field different data can be extracted from observation that allow working at a clinical level with groups. Mainly the most relevant information in this regard goes through the behavior manifested by the subject, the bodily changes that allow analyze their emotions and attitudes, preverbal communication, lived events or experiences and the outline or set of elements that are in permanent interaction.

• Related article: "Emotional psychology: main theories of emotion"

a healthy bond

Any link in which the Self is capable of using strategies to manage the bad is going to be considered healthy and preserve the good of the relationship, maintaining an efficient two-way communication that can be adaptive. For this to be so, there needs to be permanent, sincere and direct communication in which the needs of subject and object are taken into account, in addition to the fact that said communication produces learning that allows feedback on one's own behavior.

Thus, the key components for the existence of a good link are the presence of two-way communication correct, efficient and in which there is feedback and the fact that said communication allows the acquisition of a learning.

• You may be interested in: "Active listening: the key to communicating with others"

pathological links

Not all types of bonds are healthy. Although, as we have said, the link generally supposes a spiral structure in which a feedback of the relationship is given, sometimes said structure she is numb and paralyzed by fear, which by making the third party act as a barrier causes the link to end up becoming something static that prevents it from adapting adequately to the communication reality.

Thus, for the author of the link theory, there are different ways of relating that constitute a pathological link as there is no learning or when dysfunctionalities are found in the communication that makes it not completely bidirectional and does not produce a correct mutual modification. Communication would cease to be totally permanent, sincere, direct or dialectical.

Some of the main pathological links are as follows:

1. paranoid bond

In this type of link may appear aggressive and suspicious behavior, claiming something from each other.

2. depressive link

The established link generates or is generated by the presence of guilt or need for atonement.

3. manic bond

Relationship established due to emotional expansiveness. It is based on impulsiveness and frenetic activity.

4. schizophrenic link

This link is characterized by a high presence of isolation from reality, considering that autism as a relational absence is a characteristic of this psychopathological link. According to Pichon-Riviere, it is characteristic of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in which the self is disconnected with reality. Groupings of other types of links may appear.

5. obsessive bond

The relationship typical of an obsessive bond supposes that at least one of the individuals linked tries to maintain control and order in the relationship. It is intended to control and monitor the other due to the anxiety caused by mistrust.

6. hypochondriac bond

The way of relating to the environment becomes the complaint by the state of health or concern for the body.

7. hysterical bond

This type of link is based on representation, wanting the psyche of one of the components of the link to want to express something through acting or symptomatology. So, there is great drama and plasticity. The type of expression can range from physical symptoms (convulsions, screams, etc.) typical of conversion hysteria or through fears derived from mistrust.

8. night bond

Typical of subjects with states of altered consciousness, in this type of relationship a subject tries to establish a relationship with an object but is hampered by sleep. If you manage to establish it, it usually has dyes delusional.

9. gay bond

Pichon-Riviere started from a traditional conception of psychoanalysis that He saw homosexual relationships as a perversion. For the author, the homosexual bond was intended to establish a relationship with an object that at some point is considered harmful or persecutor, trying to conquer said object through control strategies and appeasement.

Currently the idea that homosexuality belongs to the field of mental disorders is totally refuted.

10. epileptic link

Links of this type, which according to this approach are especially localizable in patients epileptics, assume the presence of toughness, viscosity in the ratio and a certain component of destructiveness.

11. back link

The regressive link arises at the moment in which the sameness, the achievement of the complete self or the totality of the being, is negated or cloudy. For this author, this type of bond is a type of psychotic episodes, and in pictures in which there is a depersonalization.

Importance of this theory

Beyond its impact when studying and analyzing the importance of links and their deformation in processes pathological, the importance of the link theory is such that it would set a precedent in the emergence of psychology social.

It must be taken into account that at the time when this theory arose, psychoanalytic psychology was mainly focused on the internal conflicts of each person, making little reference to environmental factors and the relational mechanisms between people.

with this theory Pichon-Riviere would open the door to the systematized study of human relations and his organization from psychoanalysis, serving his studies to improve the situation of multiple patients through the treatment of their communications, in an area previously little worked previously.

Bibliographic references:

• Pichon-Riviere, E (1980). Link theory. Selection and Review by Fernando Taragano. Contemporary Psychology Collection. New Editions: Buenos Aires