Illusion og fravær

Objektrelationsteoretiske perspektiver på symbolisering

Abstract

The paper exposes the theories of the symbolic function in the writings of central figures within the kleinian and the independent traditions in british psychoanalysis. Central themes are the different conceptions of the psychodynamic meaning and function of symbols and the competing theories of the development of the symbolic function. The diverse views of the british analysts are hereafter compared to theses from the non-analytic developmental psychology with special attention to the challenge from the theories of Daniel Stem.