Anger, aggression and hate: Concepts influenced by infant research and attachment theory – an individual psychological perspective

Hans-Jürgen Lang

doi:10.15388/psichol.2009.0.2592

Abstract

SummaryIn this paper, I would like to describe how the clinical understanding of phenomena like anger, hate and aggression can be enriched by concepts derived from infant research and attachment theory. In doing so, I will draw on my own individual psychological and psychoanalytical point of view. In modern individual psychology, as it is understood in Germany, there are certainly psychoanalysts who tend to favour not just Adler’s theories, but also those of Melanie Klein or Wilfried Bion above all, just as there are those who favour the self-psychological approach (and, of course, there are other theories as well). Therefore, it goes without saying that I do not claim to represent the definitive perspective of individual psychology in my work: in individual psychology, as in psychoanalysis, there are, after all, different opinions, theories and preferences which sometimes may be predominant in specific countries. I believe that we essentially gain overall from this pluralism of theories, in spite of the dangers that may be associated with it (such as confusion of language, diffusion of identity of school-specific concepts, undifferentiated pragmatism, etc.). Openness is, in my opinion, a very important characteristic of individual psychological theory. On the other hand, pluralism of theories does not, after all, exclude the focal points of scientific interest and the understanding of clinical phenomena, and I would like to concentrate on some of these focal points in this paper.

Highlights

From an individual psychological point of view, the Ornsteins stress how important it is to see the compensatory function of anger or rage because these affects convey a feeling of strength and can protect the patient from experiencing much more painful affects such as powerlessness
From my own perspective of individu al psychology, this gradual change in the frightening and threatening inner world of the patient signifies a tempering of the effects of structure-determining feelings of inferiority
From the point of view of individual psychology, the feelings of inferiority caused in this way and represented by these introjects form the core of the personality

Summary

Introduction

From an individual psychological point of view, the Ornsteins stress how important it is to see the compensatory function of anger or rage because these affects convey a feeling of strength and can protect the patient from experiencing much more painful affects such as powerlessness. Seen from the point of view of the aversive motivational system, malicious hatred serves to express a highly enjoyable antago- nism, and enables the patient to avoid the experience of threatening and terrorising affects and inner states.

Results

Conclusion