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FREE ASSOCIATIONS (periodical)
CORRESPONDENCES BETWEEN BION'S BASIC ASSUMPTION THEORY AND KLEIN'S DEVELOPMENTAL
POSITIONS: AN OUTLINE
by Laurence J. Gould, Ph.D.

Source(s)
of Anxiety

ParanoidSchizoid
Position

Fears of
persecution
and of the
destruction
of the ideal
object and
the self

Affects
Anxiety
Dread
Primitive
Terror

Object
Relations

Major
Defense(s)

Part-object and
split-object
orientation - e.g.
the good and bad
breast

Splitting
of impulses
and objects
into positive
and negative
aspects

Secondary
Defense(s)
Denial

Adaptive
Precursors
Ordering
experience

Idealization
Projective
Identifications

Healthy
suspicion
Forming
ideals
Ability to act

Source(s)

Affects

Object

Major

Secondary

Sophisticate

of Anxiety
Fear of
persecution
by powerful
enemies

Relations
Anxiety
Fear
Terror

Basic
Assumption
Fight/Flight

Group
members
undifferentiated
In group/Out
group mentality

Panic
Unambivalent
intragroup
relations

(baF)

Defense(s)

Defense(s)

Splitting
off and
projecting
outward
intra-group
sources of
anxiety and
aggression

Idealization
of the leader
Denial of
aggression

Depressive
Position

Recognition
of dependency
and fear that
aggressive
impulses will
destroy the

Affects
Guilt
Despair
Depression

Object
Relations
Whole
object
awareness
accompanied
by
dependency

Realistic
action
orientations
Sensitivity to
danger and
threat
Commitment
Loyal
followership

Unambivalent
leader/follower
relations

Source(s)
of Anxiety

d Use of baF

Major
Defense(s)

Secondary
Defense(s)

Reparation
Manic
denial of
aggressive

Sublimation

Adaptive
Precursors
Impulse
control

Displaceme
nt

Symbol
formation

caretaker, or
lead to hostile
retaliation

on the object

Source(s)
of Anxiety

Basic
Assumption
Dependency

Envy

impulses

Inhibition

Greed

Aggressio
n turned
inward

Repression

Object
Relations

Major
Defense(s)

Secondary
Defense(s)

Dependenc
y on the
leader

Denial and
repression of
aggressive
and
destructive
impulses
toward the
leader

Splitting e.g.
Idealization of
the group
"believers"
and hatred of
"nonbelievers"

Idealizatio
n of the
leader

Scapegoatin
g "nonbelievers"

Affects

Dependency
on the leader
and fear of
retaliation or
abandonment

Helplessness
Powerlessness
Emptiness

Submission
to authority

Depression
Childishness

(baD)

Thralldom/Aw

Hierarchica
l disciple-like
relations with
the leader

e
Leveling of
peers

Splitting

Capacity for
creativity
Capacity for
linking internal
states and
external
behavior
Sophisticate
d Use of baD
Appropriate
submission to
authority
Learning
from authority
Realistic
gratitude
Capacity for
discriminating
followership

Source(s)
of Anxiety

Affects

Fear of
exclusion

Jealousy
Deprivatio

Fear of
retaliation

Exclusion
and
loneliness

Oedipus
Complex

Basic
Assumption
Pairing
(baP)

Source(s)
of Anxiety

Affects

Recognitio
n of
separateness
and fear of
exclusion

Libidinal
excitement
Vicarious
pleasure
Hope

Object
Relations

Major
Defense(s)

Diadic/triangul
ar interpersonal
relations - e.g.
rivaly and
competitions with
one parent for the
favor of the other

Identificatio
n with the
aggressor

Object
Relations
Mobilization
and maintenance
of the pair
Vicarious
engagement with
the pair

Phantasy of
the combined
parent (e.g.
the phallic
mother)

Major
Defense(s)
Idealization
and
preservation
of the pair in
order to
sustain hope
Repressions
of rivalry and

Secondary
Defense(s)
Regression
to earlier
defences
(splitting)
associated
with the
paranoidschizoid
position - e.g.
idealizing one
parent and
derogating the
other
Secondary
Defense(s)
Identificatio
n with the pair
Denial of
despair
Repression
and denial of

Adaptive
Precursors
Capacity for
passion
Capacity for
mature
sexuality and
romantic love
Mutuality
Reproductive
desire
Sophisticate
d Use of baP
Recognition
of a pair as a
source of
creativity
Recognition
of a pair as a
source of
change and

Competition to
be the pair's
favorite child

competition
with either
member of the
pair

one's sexuality

renewal and
continuity
Reproduction
of the group
and realistic
future
orientation