Klein’s psychic position theory and its application in psychotherapy
The article discussed psychic position theory by Melanie Klein. "Paranoid-schizoid position" and "depressive position" are mental constellations, which describe specific ways of mental functioning. Use of the concept "position" as a system of anxieties and mental defenses allows understand and trace dynamics of internal world of patients. The article describes types of anxieties and defenses are characteristic of each of positions and contains relevant examples. Author considers logical interrelation of positions as a theory basis for understanding dynamics of therapeutic process.