The vicissitudes of triangulation in the lives of twins: a Kleinian perspective on an infant observation

Abstract

This article is an account of an infant observation of non-identical twins whose early development was characterised by the shadow of the postnatal depression their mother suffered after the birth of her first child. Using extracts from the observations, the vicissitudes of triangulations are explored drawing on a Kleinian theoretical perspective. The author considers the twin’s individual internal responses to the changes in their external environment and in particular in relation to the experience of weaning and the developing presence of the absent object. The task and the role of the observer are briefly explored.