Back to Search
Start Over
The development of autonomy and superego precursors.
- Source :
-
The International journal of psycho-analysis [Int J Psychoanal] 1990; Vol. 71 ( Pt 4), pp. 585-95. - Publication Year :
- 1990
-
Abstract
- Superego precursors appear in the latter part of the first year, concomitant with the behavioural control necessitated and made possible by ego development, particularly of intentionality, communication, and mobility. During the second year of life wilful strivings intensify, complicated by the power struggles of the rapprochement crisis. A subtle process of negotiation accompanies the learning of parental rules and regulations, and the infant also learns that some rules and limits are non-negotiable. The development of the superego depends not only on 'identification with the aggressor' and self-directed aggression, but on positive identifications and internalizations of approval. While the real attitudes of the caregiver are communicated and are important, superego precursors, because of the infant's drives, defences, and ego immaturity, may be far removed from the reality of the caregiver's attitudes and intent. The parents' and infants' inter-identifications and empathy for each other contribute to the capacity for self-criticism, guilt, and remorse, attributes of the developing superego.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Anorexia Nervosa psychology
Child
Child of Impaired Parents psychology
Child, Preschool
Depressive Disorder psychology
Feeding and Eating Disorders psychology
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Parent-Child Relations
Psychoanalytic Therapy
Individuation
Personality Development
Psychoanalytic Theory
Superego
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0020-7578
- Volume :
- 71 ( Pt 4)
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The International journal of psycho-analysis
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 2074146