Anzieu argues that the skin is not only a physical organ, but also a psychic envelope that contains and protects the self from the external world. The skin ego is formed in the early stages of life, when the infant experiences a sense of continuity and security through the tactile contact with the mother's skin. The skin ego provides a primitive form of representation, memory, and thinking, based on sensations, images, and sounds. The skin ego also serves as a model for the development of other psychic structures, such as the muscular ego, the genital ego, the verbal ego, and the thinking ego.
Anzieu distinguishes between two aspects of the skin ego: the "sound envelope" and the "erotic envelope". The sound envelope is related to the auditory sensations that the infant receives from the mother's voice, heartbeat, breathing, and movements. The sound envelope creates a rhythmic and melodic structure that organizes the infant's psychic life. The erotic envelope is related to the sensual pleasures that the infant derives from the skin contact with the mother's body. The erotic envelope stimulates the infant's libido and fosters a sense of intimacy and belonging.
Anzieu also identifies several functions of the skin ego, such as holding, handling, protecting, insulating, containing, and supporting. These functions are essential for the psychological well-being of the individual, as they enable him or her to cope with stress, anxiety, aggression, and separation. Anzieu emphasizes that the skin ego is not a fixed or static entity, but rather a dynamic and evolving one, that can be modified by various factors, such as trauma, illness, aging, culture, and social interactions.
Anzieu's theory of the skin ego has been widely applied and expanded by other psychoanalysts and researchers in various fields, such as psychosomatics, aesthetics, art therapy, literature, musicology, sociology, and anthropology. Anzieu's book El Yo-piel has been translated into several languages , and has become a classic reference in psychoanalytic literature.
If you are interested in reading more about Anzieu's work on the skin ego, you can download a PDF version of his book El Yo-piel from this link. You can also find more information about Anzieu's life and career in this article.
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