ABSTRACT

Klein thought that psychoanalysts were hesitant about investigating and interpreting the negative and aggressive side of the human mind. That reticence might be understandable, but should be overcome, she thought. Her relentless push towards the most painful of experiences and anxieties has created a mistaken reputation that she was only interested in the negative. And her descriptions of the experiences of envy did nothing to revive her reputation. Here we will try to consider this without too much of the polemic which has quickly invaded these discussions.

What is envy and what were the criticisms of the concept?