The Notion of Friendship in Freud and Winnicott

Abstract

This paper approaches the conceptions about friendship that can be read between the lines in Freud's and Winnicott's theories. Whereas in the Freudian approach friendship refers to the notion of an aim-inhibited sexual drive, in Winnicott's perspective friendship sends to the notions of intimacy, potential space, recognition of otherness, and concern. The proposal of this study is to compare these conceptions, more implicit than explicit, aiming at demonstrating that the Winnicottian point of view allows us positively theorizing friendship, overcoming the Freudian negative definition which conceives of it as inhibited love and lesser pleasure. Key-words: friendship, tenderness, drive, intimacy, potential space, concern.