Melanie Klein, Symbol Formation, and Autism: A Psychoanalytic Conversation with Dr. Ben Morsa

What happens when the ego fails to form a symbol? In this episode
of Acid Horizon, we're joined by Dr. Ben Morsa, a clinical
psychologist and psychoanalytic thinker working at the
intersection of queer theory, neurodiversity, and mental health.
Together, we dive into Melanie Klein’s pivotal essay The
Importance of Symbol Formation, examining how sadism, fantasy,
and ego development shape our early psychic life. We explore
Klein’s controversial case of “Dick” and how her analysis
anticipates modern discussions of autism, while also considering
the implications of her work through the lens of Deleuze and
Guattari. Dr. Morsa offers critical insight into the enduring
tensions between diagnosis, subjectivity, and the symbolic
order—and asks whether the failure to symbolize might offer a
form of resistance rather than pathology. This episode is a rich
synthesis of psychoanalysis, philosophy, and the radical
potentials of care.

Connect with Ben's work: www.tidepools.org


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