depressive position

in the object relations theory of Melanie Klein, the stage of infant development that reaches its peak at about 6 months of age. In the depressive position, the infant begins to perceive the good object and bad object as a single whole and feels guilt for having attacked the good object during the preceding paranoid-schizoid position. In this—Klein’s most mature—phase of primary psychological organization, the infant fears that he or she will lose or destroy the good object and attempts to make reparation for earlier hostility. It is thought that maintenance of the depressive position fluctuates throughout the lifespan and that the lack of capacity for this position is tied to severe pathology.

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Psychology term of the day

December 19th 2024

Marxism

n. a philosophical position and economic theory drawn directly or indirectly from the works of Karl Marx. Although there is much debate about the true nature of Marxism, there is general agreement that it emphasizes the role of economics (control of the means of production) in subtly determining other social institutions, the importance of labor as the foundation of all economies, the failings of capitalism as an economic system, and a utopian vision of social equality. Marxism has spawned, or been appropriated by, a number of social revolutionary and communitarian movements, including communism. See also class theory; dialectical materialism. —Marxist adj., n.