ABSTRACT
Sigmund Freud was developing his concept of narcissism during and immediately after the years of his close association with C. G. Jung, between 1906 and 1914. 'On Narcissism' was published just after their irreconcilable break. Jung's notion of mental development rested on the realisation of innate psychological blueprints, which he called archetypes. Archetypes are understood as potential patterns in the psyche that represent universal human experiences such as birth, feeding, sexual intimacy and death. Jung developed a continuing relationship with America through his own teaching visits and a network of interested students who went to Zurich for training. Freud's concept of the ego-ideal included self-esteem regulating functions, which he specifically linked with narcissism. Kohut identified an absence of, or defect in, the psychological structure that maintains self cohesion and self-esteem in certain patients who related to their therapists as 'mirrors', or idealised objects, leading to what he termed 'narcissistic transferences'.
