ABSTRACT
In my clinical presentation, I would like to show that reparation is largely bound to the unconscious processing of guilt. I will further argue that, if mature reparation fails, primitive reparative attempts are brought into play, which remain unsuccessful because of their concreteness, the denial of separateness and the omnipotent control of anxiety and guilt (Rey 1986; Segal 1964; 1978; 1991). The tragedy of these primitive forms of reparation lies in the fact, that, instead of allowing a sense of forgiveness, they often lead to further damage of the patient’s internal objects. This may be one of the mechanisms fueling the repetition compulsion which in its own right can be understood as a failing and desperate reparative attempt. In a way, these patients resemble the tragic heroes of Greek mythology (Sisyphus, Prometheus, Tantalos), whose rebellion against the gods – the primitive super-ego – leads to endless torment and punishment. It is this primitive super-ego that makes reparation so difficult. But, on the
other hand, reparation is also required to transform the archaic super-ego into a containing structure that enables the ego to deal with feelings of mourning and guilt (Klein 1958; O’Shaughnessy 1999).1
