fei75766_ch05_149-178.indd 161  02/06/20 11:22 AM
Chapter 5    Klein: Object Relations Theory161
begins atamuch earlier agethanFreud hadsuggested. Freud believed thattheOedi -
puscomplex tookplace during thephallic stage, when children areabout 4or5years 
oldandaftertheyhaveexperienced anoralandanalstage. Incontrast, Klein held
thattheOedipus complex begins during theearliest months oflife,overlaps with
theoralandanalstages, andreaches itsclimax during thegenital stage ataround 
age3or4.(Klein preferred theterm“genital” stage rather than“phallic,” because 
thelatter suggests amasculine psychology.) Second, Klein believed thatasignificant 
partoftheOedipus complex ischildren’s fearofretaliation from theirparent fortheir
fantasy ofemptying theparent’s body. Third, shestressed theimportance ofchildren 
retaining positive feelings toward bothparents during theOedipal years. Fourth, she
hypothesized thatduring itsearly stages, theOedipus complex serves thesame need 
forbothgenders, thatis,toestablish apositive attitude withthegood orgratifying 
object (breast orpenis) andtoavoid thebadorterrifying object (breast orpenis). 
Inthisposition, children ofeither gender candirect theirloveeither alternately or
simultaneously toward eachparent. Thus, children arecapable ofbothhomosexual 
andheterosexual relations withbothparents. LikeFreud, Klein assumed thatgirls
andboyseventually come toexperience theOedipus complex differently.
Female Oedipal Development
Atthebeginning ofthefemale Oedipal development—during thefirstmonths oflife—
alittlegirlseeshermother’s breast asboth“good andbad.” Then around 6months 
ofage,shebegins toviewthebreast asmore positive thannegative. Later, shesees
herwhole mother asfullofgood things, andthisattitude leads hertoimagine how
babies aremade. Shefantasizes thatherfather’s penis feeds hermother withriches, 
including babies. Because thelittlegirlseesthefather’s penis asthegiver ofchil-
dren, shedevelops apositive relationship toitandfantasizes thatherfather willfill
herbody withbabies. Ifthefemale Oedipal stage proceeds smoothly, thelittlegirl
adopts a“feminine” position andhasapositive relationship withbothparents.
However, under lessideal circumstances, thelittlegirlwillseehermother as
arivalandwillfantasize robbing hermother ofherfather’s penis andstealing her
mother’s babies. Thelittlegirl’s wishtorobhermother produces aparanoid fearthat
hermother willretaliate against herbyinjuring herortaking away herbabies. The
littlegirl’s principal anxiety comes from afearthattheinside ofherbody hasbeen 
injured byhermother, ananxiety thatcanbealleviated onlywhen shelatergives birth 
toahealthy baby. According toKlein (1945), penis envystems from thelittlegirl’s 
wishtointernalize herfather’s penis andtoreceive ababyfrom him.Thisfantasy 
precedes anydesire foranexternal penis. Contrary toFreud’s view, Klein could find
noevidence thatthelittlegirlblames hermother forbringing herintotheworld with-
outapenis. Instead, Klein contended thatthegirlretains astrong attachment toher
mother throughout theOedipal period.
Male Oedipal Development
Liketheyoung girl,thelittleboyseeshismother’s breast asbothgood andbad(Klein, 
1945). Then, during theearly months ofOedipal development, aboyshifts some ofhis
oraldesires from hismother’s breast tohisfather’s penis. Atthistimethelittleboyisin
hisfeminine position; thatis,headopts apassive homosexual attitude toward hisfather. Final PDF to printer