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Bion (1959) suggests that a breakdown in the relationship between an infant and their caregiver can lead to the internalisation of a self-destructive superego rather than the development of a supportive figure to help the individual cope with the psychic pain associated with psychological thought and self-reflection. Consequently, individuals often pursue idealised relationships that promise to protect them from pain in exchange for total devotion to the ideal object.
In ‘Time and the Garden of Eden Illusion’ (2018), Steiner explores the fantasy of returning to an ideal relationship with the mother, often linked to a perfect time, place or relationship that existed before things went wrong. He discusses the illusion of a blissful, ideal relationship with God, which requires Adam and Eve to commit themselves to a bond based on unwavering faith and loyalty. Rebellion or questioning God leads to their fall, resulting in their expulsion from paradise into the wilderness. Symbolically, this represents a state in which they feel forsaken by God. They are both loved and unwanted.