fei75766_ch05_149-178.indd 176  02/06/20 11:22 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories176
•Todealwiththenurturing breast andthefrustrating breast, infants split
these objects intogood andbadwhile alsosplitting theirownego,giving 
them adual image ofself.
•Klein believed thatthesuperego comes intoexistence much earlier than
Freud hadspeculated andthatitgrows along withtheOedipal process 
rather thanbeing aproduct ofit.
•During theearly female Oedipus complex, thelittlegirladopts afeminine 
position toward bothparents. Shehasapositive feeling bothforher
mother’s breasts andforherfather’s penis, which shebelieves willfeedher
withbabies.
•Sometimes thelittlegirldevelops hostility toward hermother, whoshefears 
willretaliate against herandrobherofherbabies.
•With most girls, however, thefemale Oedipus complex isresolved without 
anyantagonism orjealousy toward theirmother.
•Thelittleboyalsoadopts afeminine position during theearly Oedipal years. 
Atthattime, hehasnofearofbeing castrated aspunishment forhissexual 
feelings forhismother.
•Later, theboyprojects hisdestructive drive ontohisfather, whohefears 
willbiteorcastrate him.
•Themale Oedipus complex isresolved when theboyestablishes good 
relations withbothparents andfeelscomfortable about hisparents having 
sexual intercourse witheachother.
References
Ainsworth, M.,Blehar, M.,Waters, E.,&Wall, S.
(1978). Patterns of attachment. Hillsdale, NJ:
Erlbaum.
Bedi, R.,Muller, R.T., &Thornback, K.(2012). 
Object relations andpsychopathology 
among adult survivors ofchildhood abuse. 
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research and 
Policy, 20, 1–8.
Bowlby, J.(1969/1982). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. 
Attachment (2nd ed.).NewYork: Basic Books.
Bowlby, J.(1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. 
Separation: Anxiety and anger. NewYork: Basic 
Books.
Bowlby, J.(1980). Attachment and loss: Vol. 3. 
Loss:Sadness and depression. NewYork: 
Basic Books.
Bowlby, J.(1988). A secure base: Parent-child 
attachment and healthy human development. 
NewYork: Basic Books.
Costa, A.L.,Sophia, E.C.,Sanches, C.,Tavares, 
H.,&Zilberman, M.L.(2015). Pathological 
jealousy: Romantic relationship characteristics, 
emotional andpersonality aspects, andsocial 
adjustment. Journal of Affective Disorders, 174,
38–44. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.11.017Davidovitz, R.,Mikulincer, M.,Shaver, P.R.,
Izsak, R.,&Popper, M.(2007). Leaders as
attachment figures: Leaders’ attachment 
orientations predict leadershiprelated mental 
representations andfollowers’ performance 
andmental health. Journal of Personality and 
Social Psychology, 93, 632–650.
Freud, S.(1911/1958). Formulations onthetwo
principles ofmental functioning. InStandard 
edition (Vol. 12).
Freud, S.(1915/1957a). Instincts andtheir
vicissitudes. InStandard edition (Vol. 14).
Grosskurth, P.(1986). Melanie Klein: Her world 
and her work. NewYork: Knopf.
Grosskurth, P.(1998). Psychoanalysis: A
dysfunctional family? The Journal of Analytical 
Psychology, 43, 87–95.
Harms, P.D.,Bai,Y.,&Han, G.H.(2016). 
Howleader andfollower attachment styles 
aremediated bytrust. Human Relations, 69 ,
1853–1876.
Hazan, C.,&Shaver, P.R.(1987). Romantic love
conceptualized asanattachment process. 
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 
511–524.Final PDF to printer