fei75766_ch05_149-178.indd 159  02/06/20 11:22 AM
Chapter 5    Klein: Object Relations Theory159
become likethatobject; thatis,theyidentify withthatobject. Forexample, infants 
typically splitoffparts oftheirdestructive impulse andproject them intothebad,
frustrating breast. Next, theyidentify withthebreast byintrojecting it,aprocess that
permits them togaincontrol overthedreaded andwonderful breast.
Projective identification exerts apowerful influence onadult interpersonal rela-
tions. Unlike simple projection, which canexistwholly inphantasy, projective iden-
tification exists onlyintheworld ofrealinterpersonal relationships. Forexample, a
husband withstrong butunwanted tendencies todominate others willproject those 
feelings intohiswife,whom hethenseesasdomineering. Themansubtly triesto
gethiswifetobecome domineering. Hebehaves withexcessive submissiveness inan
attempt toforce hiswifetodisplay theverytendencies thathehasdeposited inher.
Internalizations
When object relations theorists speak ofinternalizations, theymean thattheperson 
takes in(introjects) aspects oftheexternal world andthenorganizes those introjec -
tions intoapsychologically meaningful framework. InKleinian theory, three impor -
tantinternalizations aretheego,thesuperego, andtheOedipus complex.
Ego
Klein (1930, 1946) believed thattheego,orone’s sense ofself,reaches maturity ata
much earlier stage thanFreud hadassumed. Although Freud hypothesized thatthe
egoexists atbirth, hedidnotattribute complex psychic functions toituntilabout the
3rdor4thyear. ToFreud, theyoung child isdominated bytheid.Klein, however, 
largely ignored theidandbased hertheory ontheego’s early ability tosense both
destructive andloving forces andtomanage them through splitting, projection, and
introjection.
Klein (1959) believed thatalthough theegoismostly unorganized atbirth, it
nevertheless isstrong enough tofeelanxiety, tousedefense mechanisms, andtoform 
early object relations inbothphantasy andreality. Theegobegins toevolve withthe
infant’s firstexperience withfeeding, when thegood breast fillstheinfant notonly
withmilkbutalsowithloveandsecurity. Buttheinfant alsoexperiences thebad
breast—the onethatisnotpresent ordoesnotgivemilk, love,orsecurity. Theinfant 
introjects boththegood breast andthebadbreast, andthese images provide afocal 
point forfurther expansion oftheego.Allexperiences, eventhose notconnected with
feeding, areevaluated bytheegointerms ofhowtheyrelate tothegood breast andthe
badbreast. Forexample, when theegoexperiences thegood breast, itexpects similar 
good experiences withother objects, suchasitsownfingers, apacifier, orthefather. 
Thus, theinfant’s firstobject relation (thebreast) becomes theprototype notonlyfor
theego’s future development butalsofortheindividual’s laterinterpersonal relations.
However, before aunified egocanemerge, itmust firstbecome split. Klein 
assumed thatinfants innately strive forintegration, butatthesame time, theyare
forced todealwiththeopposing forces oflifeanddeath, asreflected intheirexperi -
encewiththegood breast andthebadbreast. Toavoid disintegration, thenewly 
emerging egomust splititself intothegood meandthebadme.Thegood meexists 
when infants arebeing enriched withmilkandlove;thebadmeisexperienced when Final PDF to printer