Early infantile development as reflected in the psychoanalytical process

The contention of this paper is that early infantile development is reflected in the infantile part of the transference. When it is well integrated it gives rise to an underlying nonverbal communication which gives a depth to other communications. When not integrated it gives rise to acting-in as a primitive mode of communication. When this is 59understood the primitive experience can be integrated, symbolized and partly at least verbalized.

The development of the infantile part can be followed in the fluctuating moves towards integration. Two examples are given. In one case I show how analytical understanding leads to the integration of a split-off, primitive, pre-verbal experience and the connection of such integration with the development of speech. I also show how a failure of understanding on the analyst’s part, repeating a developmental failure, can affect this process adversely. In the second case I show integrative processes connected with weaning and the integration of the weaning process with genital sexuality.