[Undated] [7]. Cogitations

In my papers, ‘The Differentiation of the Psychotic from the Non-Psychotic Personalities’ [1957] and ‘Attacks on Linking’ [1959],1 I was concerned with the effect on the patient's capacity for communication with himself and others of the minutely destructive fragmentation – originally described by Melanie Klein (‘Notes on Some Schizoid Mechanisms’ [1946]) – which the schizoid inflicts on these methods of communications as a part of his destructive attacks on all links. At the moment I am not concerned with the destructive attacks nor yet with the attempt, implicit in the psychoanalysis of such a patient, at reparation of the destruction and synthesis of the fragments – except in so far as it might be possible to deduce from these experiences some tentative hypotheses to illuminate the normal process of development. The elements with which we shall be concerned are hallucinations associated with intense deprivation (whether caused by the blockading effect of the patient's own envy or for any other reason, e.g. destruction of all links, murderous super-ego, predominance of death instincts), dreams, speech and its disorders (e.g. stammer), painting and drawing, and reports of difficulty with musical execution.

I shall commence with the description of a clinical experience. The patient gives virtually no information in terms of ordinary conversation. But he is able to create an impression. In my attempt to understand him I am successful in that I receive an impression, but I am unsuccessful in that the impression I receive cannot be evaluated. The patient speaks: “Well, I don't seem to have anything to say … I say I have nothing to say … it doesn't seem to me that I have, anything at all … I suppose I've done something wrong … of course I did go … no, it's no good.”

These statements are made as if they were addressed to me. Each group of words is followed by a pause, as if I were invited to reply. My silence prompts the patient to repeat himself in a tone that betrays