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Some observations on transitional object and infantile fetish.
The Psychoanalytic Quarterly
|January 1, 1975
Summary
Transitional objects help children manage developmental stress. However, severe separation can cause these objects to be replaced by fetishistic ones, impacting healthy development.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Psychoanalytic Theory
Background:
- Transitional objects are crucial for infant development, aiding in managing separation and individuation.
- Children navigate normal developmental stages, including anal-urinary and early sexual phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the function of transitional objects in development.
- To examine the impact of severe separation experiences on object relations.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal observation of a girl's developmental trajectory.
- Analysis of the child's use of objects during separation and individuation.
Main Results:
- The transitional object initially facilitated coping with developmental strains.
- A significant separation experience at 18 months led to a preoedipal castration reaction.
- The transitional object lost its function and was replaced by a fetishistic object.
Conclusions:
- Transitional objects are vital for managing typical developmental challenges.
- Severe early-life trauma can disrupt the normal function of transitional objects, leading to pathological object relations.