∙ The ego, which exists at birth, can sense both destructive and loving
forces, that is, both a nurturing and a frustrating breast.
∙ To deal with the nurturing breast and the frustrating breast, infants split
these objects into good and bad while also splitting their own ego,
giving them a dual image of self.
∙ Klein believed that the superego comes into existence much earlier than
Freud had speculated and that it grows along with the Oedipal process
rather than being a product of it.
∙ During the early female Oedipus complex, the little girl adopts a
feminine position toward both parents. She has a positive feeling both
for her mother’s breasts and for her father’s penis, which she believes
will feed her with babies.
∙ Sometimes the little girl develops hostility toward her mother, who she
fears will retaliate against her and rob her of her babies.
∙ With most girls, however, the female Oedipus complex is resolved
without any antagonism or jealousy toward their mother.
∙ The little boy also adopts a feminine position during the early Oedipal
years. At that time, he has no fear of being castrated as punishment for
his sexual feelings for his mother.
∙ Later, the boy projects his destructive drive onto his father, who he fears
will bite or castrate him.
∙ The male Oedipus complex is resolved when the boy establishes good
relations with both parents and feels comfortable about his parents
having sexual intercourse with one another.
Chapter 5 Klein: Object Relations Theory 169