Splitting as a defense mechanism in children of alcoholic parents

This paper is an attempt to identify an antecedent of overt symptomatology in children of alcoholic parents. Through art and verbal productions, within the context of a structured learning experience, primitive ego defenses and severely impaired object relations can be detected. The concept of splitting vs. repression in object relations theory and its implications for the future functioning of the child is discussed. Clinical material illustrating differences between the child who utilizes mature ego defenses and the child who resorts to splitting is presented.