A world turned upside down

Visual perceptions of the world are projected upside-down on the retina by the refraction of the optical pathways. This reversal, an integral part of the physiology of vision, also belongs to the dynamic of psychic life. Furthermore, it is one of the cornerstones of an individual’s identity. The experience of the mirror, initiated by the mother’s gaze, is a step towards experiencing other-ness. Patients in analysis speak of a quest for recognition, proof that the reversal has failed to operate.