ABSTRACT
Symbol formation and the capacity to think symbolically are central to the uniqueness of human beings. It is fashionable to assume a kind of spectrum of intelligence, with human beings at one end and primates such as chimpanzees being closer to human beings than other forms of life. The capacity to think symbolically is what enables human beings to reflect, imagine, and invent by using their minds without having to resort to action. Psychoanalysis prefers to use the word “sign” to refer to the symbols which take the form of letters, numbers, chemical formulae, and so on, since these are created or developed by human beings and are arbitrary. All types of psychotherapy can be divided into two categories, those that are concerned simply with the control and management of behaviour without any regard for meaning, and those that see the patient’s capacity to understand meaning as central to growth and development.
