ABSTRACT
Of Hungarian origin, Maria Torok (1925-1998) trained as a psychologist before becoming a full member of the Paris Psychoanalytical Society. She studied in particular the concepts of introjection and incorporation as they developed from Ferenczi's work through to that of Melanie Klein; with Nicolas Abraham. She discusses conflictual introjection and the auto-aggressive reactions that derive from it, in addition to the economical problems they may engender. Whoever approaches the problem of mourning or depression is required to muddle through a conceptual terrain studded with obstacles, for example 'introjection'. Freud, Karl Abraham, Melanie Klein, and others are quite willing to consider Ferenczi as the father of the concept of introjection. Ferenczi's text implies that introjection cannot have as its cause the actual loss of an object of love. While the introjection of desires puts an end to objectal dependency, incorporation of the object creates or reinforces imaginal ties and hence dependency.
