Melaine Reizes Klein - Internalization

Internalization

[Internalization]

• The person takes in aspect of the external world and them organizes those introjections into a psychologically meaningful framework
• Kleinian Theory's 3 important Internalization :

             - Ego, Superego, Oedipus complex

[Ego]

• Reaches maturity at a much easier stage
• Klein largely ignored the id and based her theory on the Ego's early ability to sense both destructive and loving forces and to manage them through splitting, Projection, Introjection
• Ego is unorganized at birth, it's strong enough to fell anxiety, to use defense mechanism, and to form early object relations in both phantasy and reality
• Before a unified ego can emerge, it must first become split
• Infant innately strive for integration, but at the same time, they are forced to deal with the opposing forces of life and death
• "Good me" and "Bad me"

             - Dual image of self allows them to manage the good and the bad aspect of external objects

• As they grew up, they become more realistic, and no longer see the world in terms of partial objects
• Ego become more integrated

[Super Ego]

• Differs from Freud's in at least 3 aspects :

             1) Emerges much earlier in life

             2) Not an outgrowth of the Oedipus complex

             3) Harsh and Cruel

• Early Superego produces not guilt but terror

             - Young children fear being devoured, cut up, and torn into pieces

• Infant's own destructive instinct : Which is experienced as anxiety
• Klein concurs that the more mature superego produces feelings of inferiority and guilt

[Oedipus complex]

• Oedipus complex begins at a much earlier age than Freud had suggested
• Begins during the earliest months of life, overlaps with the oral and anal stages, and reaches its climax during the 'Genital' stage at around 3-4 years

             - Note : Klein preferred the term 'Genital' instead of 'Phallic'

• Significant part of the Oedipus complex is children's fear of retaliation from their parents for their fantasy of emplying the present body
• Stressed the importance of children retaining positive feelings toward both parents during Oedipus complex years
• During its early stages, the Oedipus complex serves the same need for both genders, that is to establish a positive attitude with the good or gratifying object and to avoid the bad or terrifying object
• Children are capable of homosexual and heterosexual relation with both parents

[Female Oedipus Development]

• Similar with Freud's Oedipus complex.
• Strong attachment to her mother throughout this period

[Male Oedipus Development]

• Not so different with Freud's Oedipus complex
• Start from homosexual relation toward his father, change into the heterosexual relation with his mother
• See parents as whole object : a condition that enables him to work through his depressive position