Lacan
was not the first to introduce the Latin concept of "Imago" into psychoanalysis
(the first one was Jung). The term, related to the notion of "image"
expresses the emotional investment of the subject
according to Lacan in the images of other people. Regardless of being a
part of each and every subject's world, these images are prototypical and
universal (this notion obviously draws from Jung's
concept of Archetypes). The images manifest themselves in the psyche of the
individual and function as stereotypes which influence the manner in which the
subject relates to other around him as they are perceived through the prism of
the Imago.
When
intialy discussing his notion of the Mirror Stage. Lacan associated
three familial complexes (complexes familiaux) with a certain Imago. While Jung
saw the Imago as having both a positive and negative effect on the subject, for
Lacan the tendency is towards the negative side since they act as deceiving agents
which arouse an illusion of unity where there is no unity.
Some additional books to help you better your understanding of Lacan's theory and terminology:
