bad breast

in the psychoanalytic theory of Melanie Klein, the internalized representation (see introjection) of the mother’s breast as absent or unsatisfying. According to Klein, the infant first experiences the mother and the nourishing breast as part-objects with positive qualities—the good breast—and negative qualities—the bad breast. Klein thought that the development of these internalized representations of the breast was the first manifestation of splitting.

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Psychology term of the day

December 19th 2024

UG

abbreviation for universal grammar.