ABSTRACT
Love, guilt and reparation are seen as the necessary counterparts to those aggressive impulses which result from the dependency on our first love objects. Reparation can be regarded as an elementary process which counteracts destruction and disintegration. However, the psychotic attempt at restitution turns out quite differently, although it may involve elements of manic or even genuine reparation. Resentment and grievance are further clinically relevant constellations, where the patient while unremittingly demanding reparation, keeps the wounds open and ultimately does not permit reparation. The processes blocking genuine reparation and thus leading to continuous damage of the internal objects will be investigated by using clinical material from the analysis of a borderline patient. Feelings of humiliation could easily and quickly turn into states of rage and indignation, from where he looked down on other people.
