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Part II    Psychodynamic Theories154
theirunderlying aimisalways thesame—to reduce tension: thatis,toachieve plea-
sure. InFreudian terms, theobject ofthedrive isanyperson, partofaperson, orthing 
through which theaimissatisfied. Klein andother object relations theorists begin 
withthisbasic assumption ofFreud andthenspeculate onhowtheinfant’s realor
fantasized early relations withthemother orthebreast become amodel foralllater
interpersonal relationships. Adult relationships, therefore, arenotalways what they
seem. Animportant portion ofanyrelationship istheinternal psychic representa -
tions ofearly significant objects, suchasthemother’s breast orthefather’s penis, that
havebeen introjected, ortaken intotheinfant’s psychic structure, andthenprojected 
ontoone’s partner. These internal pictures arenotaccurate representations ofthe
other person butareremnants ofeachperson’s earlier experiences.
Although Klein continued toregard herself asaFreudian, sheextended psycho -
analytic theory beyond theboundaries setbyFreud. Forhispart,Freud chose mostly 
toignore Klein. When pressed foranopinion onherwork, Freud hadlittletosay.For
example, in1925 when Ernest Jones wrote tohimpraising Klein’s “valuable work” with
childhood analysis andplaytherapy, Freud simply replied that“Melanie Klein’s work 
hasaroused considerable doubt andcontroversy hereinVienna” (Steiner, 1985, p.30).
Psychic Life of the Infant
Whereas Freud emphasized thefirstfewyears oflife,Klein stressed theimportance 
ofthefirst4or6months. Toher,infants donotbegin lifewithablank slatebutwith
aninherited predisposition toreduce theanxiety theyexperience asaresult ofthe
conflict produced bytheforces ofthelifeinstinct andthepower ofthedeath instinct. 
Theinfant’s innate readiness toactorreact presupposes theexistence ofphylogenetic 
endowment, aconcept thatFreud alsoaccepted.
Phantasies
OneofKlein’s basic assumptions isthattheinfant, evenatbirth, possesses an
active phantasy life.These phantasies arepsychic representations ofunconscious id
instincts; theyshould notbeconfused withtheconscious fantasies ofolder children 
andadults. Infact,Klein intentionally spelled phantasy thiswaytomake itdistin -
guishable. When Klein (1932) wrote ofthedynamic phantasy lifeofinfants, shedid
notsuggest thatneonates could putthoughts intowords. Shesimply meant thatthey
possess unconscious images of“good” and“bad.” Forexample, afullstomach is
good; anempty oneisbad.Thus, Klein would saythatinfants whofallasleep while 
sucking ontheirfingers arephantasizing about having theirmother’s good breast 
inside themselves. Similarly, hungry infants whocryandkicktheirlegsarephantasiz -
ingthattheyarekicking ordestroying thebadbreast. 
Astheinfant matures, unconscious phantasies connected withthebreast con-
tinue toexert animpact onpsychic life,butnewer onesemerge aswell.These later
unconscious phantasies areshaped bybothreality andbyinherited predispositions. 
Oneofthese phantasies involves theOedipus complex, orthechild’s wishtodestroy 
oneparent andsexually possess theother. (Klein’s notion oftheOedipus complex is
discussed more fullyinthesection titled Internalizations.) Because these phantasies Final PDF to printer