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KMID : 0385320050160020137
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Journal of Korean Psychoanalytic Society
2005 Volume.16 No. 2 p.137 ~ p.141
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Paranoid Position & Depressive Position in Kleinian Theory
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Ha Jee-Hyun
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Abstract
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Melanie Klein presented a unique concept of “position” including the “paranoid-schizoid position” and “depressive position” in her developmental theory. The “position” is different from Freud’s “phase” or “stage.” It doesn’t disappear after accomplishment of certain developmental tasks, but persists throughout life. The paranoidschizoid position is the first experience of when infants try to protect their good objects from the aggressive impulse. To get rid of persecutory anxiety, projection of the bad impulse is usually used and splitting is the main defense to protect the good object. Afterwards, infants try to integrate two part-objects to the whole object. By becoming aware of the whole object, the infant experiences ambivalence and the unavoidable nature of damage on the whole object. It makes them feel grief and guilt, which are the sources of depressive anxiety. But depressive pain can motivate reparation fantasy, and it can facilitate hope and optimism. Finally, the ego will be strengthened in spite of hatred. These two major positions remain in the psychic world throughout life and in case of stress and inner anxiety, one can regress to the paranoid position. Such dynamic change of positions in object relations and one’s psychic reality have important meaning in Kleinian theory, and are valuable in clinical situations, especially for understanding borderline conditions.
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KEYWORD
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Paranoid-schizoid position, Depressive position, Melanie Klein, Object relation
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