Back to Table of Contents
of personality. However, the opposite of object cathexis is not ego cathexis, but cathexis of one’s own person, that is self-cathexis; in speaking of self-cathexis, we do not imply whether this cathexis is situated in the id, ego, or in the superego. …we actually do find ‘narcissism’ in all three psychic systems; but in all of these cases there is opposition to (and reciprocity with) object cathexis. It will therefore be clarifying if we define narcissism as the libidinal cathexis not of the ego but of the self. (It might also be useful to apply the term self-representation as opposed to object representation .)” (Hartmann, 1950, pp. 84-85). Within the domain of the Self, Hartman tried to distinguish between the self, self image, and self-representation, which he contrasted in opposition and reciprocity to object representations . VI. Ab. Eduardo Weiss In a dialogue with Ferenczi as well as Hartmann, Weiss (1957) contemplated how object representations become part of the ego. He believed that introjection (Ferenczi 1909) did not adequately describe this process. “The object is not thrown, 'jected', by the ego into itself, but the ego includes it within, or extends itself over it” (Weiss 1957, p. 267). He found internalization to be a more suitable concept. Similarly in the case of externalization nothing is thrown out of the ego, but the ego separates itself or withdraws from a portion of itself. The portion or trend of the ego which is externalized is turned into an object representation . This object representation now has ego characteristics. The phenomenon of 'ego passage' has two stages. First, an object representation is internalized within the ego, thus becoming a part of the ego. Second, there is an externalization of the former object representation. Once an object representation is included within the ego it no longer preserves all its original features. Thus, the re-externalized object representation assumes certain characteristics of the ego. In neurotic conflict situations there is either no externalization of the representation of the opposite sex or it is incomplete. Externalization of the object representation—'de-egotization’—could influence the ego cathexis. The object representation carries with it some of the ego cathexis. According to Weiss, projection must be differentiated from externalization. Projection should be reserved for delusional belief or the belief that another person has some trait of the individual concerned. In both instances there is defective reality testing. The process of externalization turns ego states into object representations regardless of whether or not a corresponding object is actually found in the external world. The superego is not composed of all internalized object representations. Only those objects are represented which appeared powerful and omniscient in childhood. In melancholia the ego assumes two roles—that of accused and that of accuser. Not all the patient's reproaches are directed against the internalized love object; some derive from objectionable actions of the patient himself. In the manic solution of the melancholia, the ego externalizes the objectionable portion of itself and identifies with the superego.
780
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online