fei75766_ch05_149-178.indd 151  02/06/20 11:22 AM
Chapter 5    Klein: Object Relations Theory151
sense ofidentity restsonathree-step relationship withtheir mother. First, infants 
havebasic needs cared forbytheir mother; next, theydevelop asafesymbiotic rela-
tionship withanall-powerful mother; andfinally, theyemerge from their mother’s 
protective circle andestablish their separate individuality. Heinz Kohut theorized 
thatchildren develop asense ofselfduring early infancy when parents andothers 
treatthem asiftheyhadanindividualized sense ofidentity. John Bowlby investi -
gated infants’ attachment totheir mother aswellasthenegative consequences of
being separated from their mother. Mary Ainsworth andhercolleagues developed 
atechnique formeasuring thetypeofattachment styleaninfant develops toward 
itscaregiver.
Biography of Melanie Klein
Melanie Reizes Klein wasbornonMarch 30,1882, inVienna, Austria. Theyoung -
estoffourchildren borntoDr.Moriz Reizes andhissecond wife,Libussa Deutsch 
Reizes, Klein believed thatherbirth wasunplanned—a belief thatledtofeelings of
being rejected byherparents. Shefeltespecially distant toherfather, whofavored 
hisoldest daughter, Emilie (Sayers, 1991). BythetimeMelanie wasborn, herfather 
hadlongsince rebelled against hisearly Orthodox Jewish training andhadceased to
practice anyreligion. Asaconsequence, Klein grew upinafamily thatwasneither 
proreligious norantireligious.
During herchildhood, Klein observed bothparents working atjobstheydid
notenjoy. Herfather wasaphysician whostruggled tomake aliving inmedicine 
andeventually wasrelegated toworking asadental assistant. Hermother ranashop 
selling plants andreptiles, adifficult, humiliating, andfearful jobforsomeone who
abhorred snakes (H.Segal, 1979). Despite herfather’s meager income asadoctor, 
Klein aspired tobecome aphysician.
Klein’s early relationships wereeither unhealthy orended intragedy. Shefelt
neglected byherelderly father, whom shesawascoldanddistant, andalthough she
loved andidolized hermother, shefeltsuffocated byher.Klein hadaspecial fondness 
forherolder sister Sidonie, whowas4years older andwhotaught Melanie arithmetic 
andreading. Unfortunately, when Melanie was4years old,Sidonie died. Inlater
years, Klein confessed thatshenever gotovergrieving forSidonie (H.Segal, 1992). 
After hersister’s death, Klein became deeply attached toheronlybrother, Emmanuel, 
whowasnearly 5years older andwhobecame herclose confidant. Sheidolized her
brother, andthisinfatuation mayhavecontributed toherlaterdifficulties inrelating 
tomen. LikeSidonie earlier, Emmanuel tutored Melanie, andhisexcellent instruc -
tions helped herpasstheentrance examinations ofareputable preparatory school 
(Petot, 1990).
When Klein was18,herfather died, butagreater tragedy occurred 2years 
laterwhen herbeloved brother, Emmanuel, died. Emmanuel’s death leftKlein devas -
tated. While stillinmourning overherbrother’s death, shemarried Arthur Klein, an
engineer whohadbeen Emmanuel’s close friend. Melanie believed thathermarriage 
atage21prevented herfrom becoming aphysician, andfortherestofherlife,she
regretted thatshehadnotreached thatgoal(Grosskurth, 1986).Final PDF to printer