The Play-Analysis of a Three-Year-Old Girl

As no full account of the analysis of a young child has hitherto been published, some preliminary remarks may be permitted. The analytic material of a young child is rather different from that of an adult or older child: unconscious phantasies are sometimes expressed in a surprisingly open way. Preconscious material usually plays a smaller rôle; reality factors and ego-interests are certainly not less important but are of a different type. The reality-relationship of the young child is narrower but more intense; the surrounding objects, food, toys, clothes, etc., are of great importance. Its ego-interests are not yet much differentiated. At three years old, the analytic material naturally shews much less individual variation than in adult cases. From the conscious point of view the material is somewhat monotonous, because the conscious interests of the child are still relatively primitive and confined. On the other hand, the material shews greater and quicker change of attitude and of interaction between the psychic institutions than does the average analysis of a neurotic adult. This is due, in the main, to the more acute anxiety of the young child, which does not permit him to maintain any one attitude for very long; but also to the fact that his ego-activities and interests are insufficiently consolidated and organized. The predominance of symbolic representation seems to be caused by the fact that part-object-relationship predominates, while in the case of a better developed reality-relationship and less immature ego the unconscious phantasies are expressed more in terms of reality and in connection with real objects.

Vivian was brought to me at the age of two years and eleven months, for symptoms of hysterical vomiting, difficulties in eating, constipation, and fear of noises, musical bands, trains, etc. Although an unusually pretty child, she was not very attractive. Prematurely sophisticated, she lacked the spontaneity and charm of childhood. She