The physical handicap and the body ego

This paper has three parts. First, I reconsider the previously published analysis of Peter, the boy born with a severe congenital handicap. This time I focus on the boy's own major wish, not for the growth of normal arms, but to be accepted with pride by his mother as he actually was. I mention some thoughts concerning the deep-seated problems between mother and child occurring during the fusional phase and the consequent limitations this imposed upon the primary identificatory processes. In the second part of this paper a comparison is established between the fantasy life of this handicapped boy with the unconscious fantasy life of some obsessive-depressive patients experiencing minor, acquired, or temporary handicaps. The main point here is that the fantasy life of Peter is oriented towards ego-building while the fantasy life of the others is ego-inhibiting. A final comparison is attempted between, on the one hand, the psychological effects on this child of his own congenital handicap contrasted with, on the other hand, the effects on a physically normal child of the permanent physical handicap of one of the parents. The child in the second situation (handicap of a parent) seems more psychologically threatened in his body integrity and identity.