Kleinian Theory: Concepts vs. Freud

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Questions and Answers

What was a significant change introduced by Melanie Klein compared to Freud's view on drives?

Drives are unrelated to relationships.

Drives cannot exist without an object. (correct)

Drives are purely autoerotic.

Drives are solely focused on self-gratification.

Which term describes the group of authors influenced by Klein, who did not align strictly with either Klein or Freud?

Analytical Psychologists

Freudian Scholars

Object Relations theorists

Middle School (correct)

What role do internal objects play in Klein's theory of the mind?

They serve as symbols that influence drives and feelings. (correct)

They solely represent real-life individuals.

They are limited to maternal figures.

They are irrelevant to psychological development.

Who is considered one of Klein's most original students in developing her theories further?

Wilfred Bion Signup and view all the answers

Klein's conceptualization shifted the focus from which element to which element in the analysis of drives?

From autoeroticism to object relations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aspect that Klein identified as the goal of drives?

The existence of real or imagined objects. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key limitation noticed in the future developments of psychoanalysis after Klein's theories?

A complete disregard for object relations. Signup and view all the answers

Klein argued that even narcissism must involve what aspect in its formation?

The presence of internalized objects. Signup and view all the answers

What does the central relationship in Kleinian theory primarily involve?

The development of partial and total objects through drives Signup and view all the answers

In Kleinian theory, what stages mark the evolution of the psyche?

Schizoparanoid and depressive positions Signup and view all the answers

How does Melanie Klein's view of the ego differ from Sigmund Freud's perspective?

Klein insists the ego already exists upon birth Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the concepts of 'repair' and 'envy' in Kleinian thought?

They are key to transitioning to ambivalent thought in adulthood Signup and view all the answers

How does Klein's understanding of the Oedipus complex differ from Freud’s?

Klein places its emergence earlier, between 6 and 12 months Signup and view all the answers

What does Klein identify as a critical mechanism in her theoretical framework?

The triad of splitting, introjection, and projection Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Klein's metapsychology differ from that of Freud?

Klein views psychic instances as having concrete values Signup and view all the answers

What role does the mother play in Klein's theory of child development?

She is pivotal for the child's psychic development Signup and view all the answers

What is the central concept during the developmental phase from 5 to 12 months according to Klein?

Integration Signup and view all the answers

What feeling does the child experience when they recognize the dependency on the mother during weaning?

Impotence Signup and view all the answers

What does Klein suggest happens to the child's perception of the good and bad breast in the depressive position?

They merge into a single object. Signup and view all the answers

According to Klein, what is the relationship between jealousy and the desire to possess an object?

Jealousy is a product of love wanting the object for oneself. Signup and view all the answers

What does Klein identify as the source of envy?

Desire for possession of favorable qualities. Signup and view all the answers

What psychological consequence can arise from excessive anxiety during the developmental stage mentioned?

Development of psychotic disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Super Ego in Klein's theory?

To internalize rules governing inner destructiveness. Signup and view all the answers

What can result from failing to transition from partial to total objects according to Klein?

Inability to mentalize leading to psychosis. Signup and view all the answers

How does Klein differentiate between envy and jealousy?

Envy is derived from the death drive, jealousy from the life drive. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the depressive position in terms of the child’s understanding of their mother?

The mother is integrated as an object with ambivalent feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the child experiences only negative emotions without positive experiences?

Emergence of psychopathy or neurosis. Signup and view all the answers

What did Melanie Klein's ideas provoke in the psychoanalytic community?

A dispute between differing schools of thought. Signup and view all the answers

How does Klein's theory address the relationship dynamics with the father figure?

The father's role is relativized compared to the mother's influence. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the integration of feelings of gratitude and envy?

Formation of a stable and integrated Self. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'schizoparanoid position' refer to in Klein's theory?

The coexistence of ideal and persecutory objects. Signup and view all the answers

How does Klein's perspective on the development of the ego differ from Freud's?

Klein considers the ego to be primarily a psychological formation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary defense mechanism utilized during the schizoparanoid position?

Projection. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Klein's theory, what is meant by 'partial objects'?

Internal representations that are extensions of the self. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the transition from the schizoparanoid phase to the depressive phase?

Partial objects become total objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of Klein's 'object relation' theory?

The role of internal representations in shaping relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'projective identification' in Klein's framework?

The externalization and projection of unwanted self-parts onto other objects. Signup and view all the answers

What does Klein assert about a child's awareness of death?

Children are aware of death since birth. Signup and view all the answers

How is the maternal breast conceptualized in Klein's theory during the first days of life?

As a partial object that is a significant extension of the self. Signup and view all the answers

In Klein's model, what leads to the development of 'bad' objects in the child's psyche?

The experience of the death instinct and resulting anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

Which phase involves the use of splitting and projective identification as defense mechanisms?

Schizoparanoid position. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept refers to the internal representations that influence emotional responses?

Partial representations. Signup and view all the answers

How does Klein's theory relate to the notion of the ego in infancy?

The ego is involved in relational dynamics from birth. Signup and view all the answers

What role do 'good' and 'bad' objects play in Klein's theory regarding emotional development?

They guide the formation of the child's self-image. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Kleinian Theory: Key Concepts

Klein's theory centers on the relationship between drives (partial and total objects), the conflict (life and death drives, envy, gratitude), developmental stages (schizoparanoide and depressive positions), and resulting pathologies (psychoses and neuroses).
The mother-child relationship is crucial for both the child's and adult's psychological development.
Concepts like reparation and envy are vital for moving from a pathological to a mature, ambivalent understanding of relationships.

Klein vs. Freud: Key Differences

Metapsychology: Klein's psychic structures (id, ego, superego) have a concrete value, unlike Freud's metaphorical interpretation.
Ego Development: Klein posits a rudimentary ego present from birth, facilitating object relations, contrasting with Freud's later ego formation.
Drive Dynamics: Freud's primary mechanism is repression, while Klein emphasizes splitting, introjection, and projection as crucial defense mechanisms.
Developmental Stages: Klein found Freud's "stages" too static, emphasizing "positions" reflecting the child's developing relational understanding, especially in the first year.

Object Relations Theory

Klein believed the child's inner world is populated by representations of objects, both partial (e.g., breast) and total (integrated perception of the mother), which are invested with psychic drives. These representations are pre-existing and independent of external reality.
Partial Objects: Early in life, the infant perceives the mother's breast as an extension of self and possessing qualities.
Total Objects: As the infant progresses, these partial objects become integrated into a complete whole, and this transition has a significant impact on later relationships.

Developmental Positions

Schizoparanoide Position (0-4/5 months):
- Characterized by splitting (ideal vs. persecutory objects) and persecutory anxiety.
- The infant's rudimentary ego uses defenses like splitting, projection, and introjection against the perceived death drive.
- The purpose is to introject the idealized object and reject persecutory ones.
- Identification with the object is also prominent, with the ego projecting both good and bad aspects onto the mother figure.
Depressive Position (5-12 months):
- Marked by integration, grief processing, and reparation.
- Infants recognize the coexistence of good and bad aspects (ambivalence) of the mother figure.
- The ego struggles with feelings of guilt and the desire to repair damaged relationships.
- The emergence of the superego, driven by the need to limit destructive impulses, marks this position.
- The recognition of a third person in the relationship (the father) occurs here.

Envy and Psychopathology

Envy arises from the death drive, representing a desire for the object's destruction rather than possession.
The harmony of both love and envy is vital for a well-integrated ego.
Klein's approach emphasizes the internal world and fantasies rather than external reality in determining mental health or pathology.
Pathology can arise from a failure to transition from partial to total objects or from a lack of resolution in the depressive position.

Klein's Legacy

Klein's ideas spurred significant debate and influenced subsequent psychoanalytic thinkers (e.g., Fairbairn, Winnicott, Bowlby).
Her emphasis on the relational nature of drives and objects marked a shift from a purely autoerotic view of the psyche.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts of Kleinian theory, including the relationship between drives, developmental stages, and the importance of the mother-child bond. It also highlights the distinctions between Klein and Freud's theories, particularly in metapsychology and ego development.