Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association: Annie Reich. 'Early Identifications as Archaic Elements in the Super-Ego.'

A distinction is made between identifications with parents seen in a glorified light and identifications resulting from the breakdown of the Oedipus complex. The former represent the ego-ideal, the latter the superego. The reader is reminded that Freud's original conception of the ego-ideal was much wider than the later concept of the superego. Most frequently the superego is equated with the conscience. Superego identifications are differentiated structures within the ego, while earlier identifications are usually thought of as being completely absorbed into the ego (ego identifications which do not lead to a differentiation within the ego). The paper aims to demonstrate that early identifications do not always result in a complete integration within the ego. Early identifications may occur as an attempt to compensate for a narcissistic injury. They may result in a longing to be like the idealized parent (the ego-ideal). The ego is measured against these longings. Self-esteem depends upon the relationship between them and the ego. Depending upon the degree of ego maturity, the individual will or will not attempt in reality to fulfil the standard imposed by the ego ideal. The less developed the ego the more will these ideals express themselves by imaginary wish fulfilments—as narcissistic phantasies. This is the most primitive method of restoring wounded narcissism. The origin of accentuated narcissistic ideals appears to be twofold: (1) sudden threats to narcissism, e.g. strong castration anxiety; (2) the early identifications which are of an essentially primitive nature. The child imitates whatever momentarily attracts his attention—he is the object. The later wish to be like the object presupposes some degree of realization of the self and object as distinct entities. Normally these passing identifications develop into permanent ones. The increase in reality-awareness leads to the parental figures being divested of their grandiose, infantile asp