ABSTRACT
Melanie Klein made a vital distinction between the anxieties, defence mechanisms, and processes characteristic of the depressive position, and those characteristic of the paranoid-schizoid position. This chapter suggests that a sense of rectification at the paranoid-schizoid position may offer healing phantasies of a sense of justice, and even, of revenge. It also suggests that certain psychopathic children, while in no way moving directly towards depressive position concern and empathy, seem sometimes in treatment to begin to be less grandiose and thus more concerned for their own well- being–thus a bit sobered down. The chapter discusses a quite fundamental development: that from affectless schizoid or autistic states to more alive states, regardless of whether the affect then experienced is positive or negative. Klein's great meta-theoretical distinction between the anxieties related to depressive functioning and those of the paranoid-schizoid position involved an incredible breakthrough.
