On Externalization Processes in a Small Child A Case Presentation

The parents of a boy I analysed a number of years ago have made a habit of now and then sending me information about their child's well-being. They have been happy about their son's social ability with his friends, success at school, literary talent and successful musical studies. This clinical case has occupied my mind for some time, demanding conscious and unconscious thinking and attention. Some time ago, I received a fairy-tale that the boy had written. It gave me the impetus to think more actively and systematically about the little boy's analytic voyage (from 3 years 8 months to 7 years 2 months). His fairy-tale directed my explicit interest to the mode of thinking and functioning which had appeared in the analysis and which had furthered it: externalization. In my presentation, I shall primarily and principally deal with the child's analytic material, at times summarily and at times more in detail, discussing session material. Finally I will concentrate on the concept of externalization and, in particular, on externalization as it emerged in this analysis.

On the advice of her own therapist, Hans’ mother contacted me. The boy was then 3 years and 8 months old. At the age of 2 years, he had been frightened by clowns whom he was convinced could jump through the window to attack him. For a long period of time, he had been drawing pictures of clown's heads. Within the last twelve months he had not