Steps in Ego-Integration Observed in a Play-Analysis1

It is my aim to demonstrate the connexion between the severe emotional disturbance with accompanying retarded development in a boy of three years old, and the underlying split condition of his ego. This was due to the strength and character of his destructive impulses. By analysis of his persecutory anxiety and defences he was enabled, after eight months, to effect a certain degree of ego-integration and achieve some control of ego-function. I shall only give those details from his history and analysis which are relevant to my theme.

Colin was the elder of two children: his sister Katy was born at home when he was two years and eight months old. His own birth was difficult. Feeding was not established satisfactorily, and even by three years of age, when analysis started, he would not feed himself. He let his fæces drop from him all over the house at all times. He was never dry by night or by day. Sleep was always broken by compulsive activities that continued throughout the greater part of the night. He showed little need to receive affection from, or to give it to, his mother, but exacted compliance from her in his obsessional rituals. He admired his father, especially for his skill in mending things, and incessantly demanded his help. He never had a name for himself till his sister was born, and then he called himself Katy. Just before his third birthday he began to call himself Col, short for Colin, but he never used the pronouns I or me. When he saw his sister first use her pot, shortly after her birth, he started using his own. Then once a day after lunch he produced with great pride an extremely large motion, though he remained incontinent at other times. It was striking that he would not do anything for himself, and even when playing would say: 'You do it', and then imitate his playfellow.

The technique I used in Colin's analysis is that described by Melanie Klein in her Psycho-Analysis of Children. During the first week of analysis he institu