The advent of object representation : a Piagetian critique of the British School theorists: Klein, Fairbairn, Winnicott and Guntrip

It was the purpose of this study to determine the consistency between the theoretical constructs central to object relations theory and the observations and data-based inferences of Jean Piaget regarding the development of the object concept and the advent of object representation during infancy. The theories of four major writers of the British School of Psychoanalysis were critically examined in light of a timetable marking the infant's advance toward human object concept formation and representation.

Based on a Piagetian critique of Klein's theories, it was concluded that none of the fantasies as described by her exists during infancy. Rather, it was concluded that, while rooted in sensorimotor experience influenced by object relationships, such fantasies constitute a "representational overlay" of which only certain young children, not infants, are capable.

A simi lar critique of Fairbairn's theory of endopsychic egostructure development led to the conclusion that Fairbairn's accounting of the relationship between object splitting and ego structure formation is reversed; it was determined that in the context of object relationships, ego structures emerge well before the occurrence of object representation and the build-up of "internal objects."

Winnicott's theory pertaining to the structure of the neonate psyche and the young infant's relation to his objects was found to be highly consistent with Piagetian findings. Those portions of his work based upon Kleinian postulates regarding infant fantasy were found to be the source of inconsistencies within the body of his overall work.

Guntrip was found to be somewhat aware of l imitations pertaining to object representation during early infancy, but his work was found to be subject to many of the same criticisms appl ied to Klein and Fairbairn. It was hypothesized that Guntrip's "schizoid core" consists of an affectively-charged, sensorimotor domain wherein experience is not represented and therefore is poorly modulated.

Finally, it was concluded that object relationships, not object representations, are of primary importance in the emergence of endopsychic structures during the first 15 months of l ife.