Klein's Concept Research Articles

On the wrong track: Reflections on a failed encounter

Abstract This paper uses a psychodynamic object relations model to analyse an unsuccessful attempt at therapy with a very damaged individual who became more and more hostile and challenging as the work progressed. The case example serves as a basis for exploring the interpersonal dynamics of working with those clients who arouse particularly uncomfortable or disturbing feelings in the practitioner. This phenomenon is discussed in terms of the Kleinian concept of projective identification, which is examined in some detail. It is argued that social workers cannot work effectively indeed, may not even survive professionally unless they can understand and make creative use of their own personal responses to the work. To this end, regular and skilled supervision, which can explore and utilize this vital area of the worker's countertransference, is a fundamental requirement for the training and professional development of social work practitioners

Klein's group-theoretic conception in the mechanics of a material point

The aim of this paper is to show that the physical principle of invariance and the condition that mechanics be Lagrangian make it possible to extend Klein's conception, originally proposed for geometry, to the mechanics of a material point. It thus becomes possible to place the known systems of mechanics (classical and relativistic) on a unified theoretical basis, after proving their uniqueness, and to outline a way to construct new, alternative systems. This may prove useful for the interpretation of new experimental factors. It should be borne in mind that transformation groups are one of the most natural and universal tools for investigating and classifying fundamental phenomena in the exact sciences. As a mathematical object, groups can be studied theoretically in advance, independently of experimentation. Hence physical invariance principles, which develop Klein's conception, may be considered to be one of the simplest and most aesthetically justified sources of scientific predictions with a claim to reliability.

A dictionary of Kleinian thought

This book contains 13 main entries on the basic Kleinian concepts - splitting, paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions, projective identification, envy, internal objects - along with numerous entries on subsidiary concepts and the main post-Kleinian writers - Bion, Segal, Rosenfeld, Joseph and Meltzer.

A Kleinian analysis of group development

Various theoretical models have been used to study stages of group development. This paper analyzes the early phases of a therapy group using Melanie Klein's theory of developmental positions. In discussing the underlying forces that contribute to the evolution of the group, a special emphasis is placed on Klein's concept of projective identification and Bion's containment model.

The kleinian concept of position and group therapeutic process: An experience in group psychotherapy with emotionally disturbed boys aged 6 to 9½ years

The kleinian concept of position and group therapeutic process: An experience in group psychotherapy with emotionally disturbed boys aged 6 to 9½ years

Instinct, Phantasy, and Psychological Deep Structure

Introduction ALTHOUGH A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF the world's analysts are Kleinian analysts, a serious consideration of the work of Melanie Klein has not been a major part of the dialogue that constitutes American psychoanalytic thinking. Too often, when Klein's theory is considered, it is scrutinized only long enough to be dismissed on the basis of one untenable idea or another, such as Klein's conception of the death instinct, her developmental timetable, her theory of technique, and so on. My intention is not to proselytize, for I am not a Kleinian and have profound disagreements with many aspects of her work; rather my aim is to present Klein's thinking in a light that might account for the important influence her ideas have had on the development of psychoanalytic thought outside of the United States. In particular, Klein has had a powerful influence on the development of British object relations theory; although this as

An extension of F. Klein's level concept

An extension of F. Klein's level concept