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three levels of symbolization are described, 1. incipient 2. discursive and 3. symbolization of dynamic conflict . Alain de Mijolla’s (2002/2005) “International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis” carries the entry ‘symbolization’ written by Alain Gibeault (2005) who defines symbolization as: The operation by which, for someone, one thing represents another. It then appears as the substitution of one object for another, but it is, above all, the result of a process that presupposes both the ability to represent an absent object and a subject capable of knowing that the symbol is not the symbolized object. (p. 1765) Another notable trend among North American and European theorists (Neubauer 1990; Piaget 1936; Lacan 1966; Winnicott 1953; Kristeva 1974/1984; Modell 1970, Loewald 1988), some of whom were also interested in linguistics and philosophy, conceptualized the employment of symbolization as an example of the kind of communication that usually develops between a mother and child to promote language, and thus facilitate symbolic representation, and later verbalization of complex inner states. Specifics of such developments will follow in the ensuing sections. In the absence of an entry ‘Symbolization’ in the recent Latin American psychoanalytic dictionary (Borenstejn et al. 2014), in Latin America, symbolization is broadly understood to be a concept used in several disciplines' theoretical bodies of knowledge. However, unlike disciplines that pose it as an accomplishment capacity, in psychoanalysis, symbolization is viewed as a process that is part of normal development, proceding from a pre- symbolic stage at the beginning of psychic life, towards successful symbolization. Within this approach, the flaws that might occur throughout the process are also studied. In this sense, both the normal symbolization process and its deviations are basic to understanding the human being, in its normal and pathological aspects. Drawing on the aforementioned Gibault’s definition (Mijolla 2002/2005), in Latin America, there is a wide recognition that, although the ability to symbolize is mainly innate and is maintained throughout life, each step requires the presence-absence of another, who lends the baby its symbolizing function, within the frame of early interactions. This is how the baby is inserted into the framework of culture and incorporates language. Many diverse regional contributions within this broad framework are further specified in the Latin American section. Germane is the combination of the interdisciplinary and psychoanalytic perspectives by philosopher Paul Ricoeur’s definition of symbolization in psychoanalysis as a process that concludes with the establishment of a division between the conscious and the unconscious. Angel Garma’s comparative psychoanalytic studies of symbolism in Native American (Aztec, Maya) art, artefacts, mythology and those of Greek, Roman, Arabic and Asian ancient cultures present another facet of this tradition. Contemporary studies by Emma Ponce de León (2016) of the symbolization as a process in multidisciplinary psychoanalytic theory and clinical practice continues the rich interdisciplinary regional tradition and will be described in the pertinent interdisciplinary section below.
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