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In psychotic and borderline patients, processes of regression can be observed which lead to a high-grade deterioration of object relations and ego functions with dissolution of those essential identifications on which the experience of our own identity is founded. Our understanding of this pathology is still far from advanced. But it is my belief that deeper insight into this unconquered area can be gained from further investigations of the normal developmental processes which build up the cathexes of the self and of the object world with libidinous, aggressive, and neutralized drive energy in the course of structural differentiation. This is the goal of this paper. Our scrutiny will start out with a review and rediscussion of our psychoanalytical concepts of primary and secondary narcissism and masochism.
The concept of narcissism was introduced by Freud (1914) in his paper "On Narcissism: An Introduction." Freud's point of departure in this paper were megalomanic symptoms in schizophrenics which, he said,
…. doubtless come into being at the expense of the object-libido. The libido withdrawn from the outer world has been directed on the ego, giving rise to a state which we may call narcissism.
Freud concluded that
the narcissism which arises when libidinal cathexes are called in away from external objects must be conceived of as a secondary form, superimposed upon a primary one that is obscured by manifold influences.