reparation
Pronunciation: rep-uh-RAY-shun
Klein's concept of the psychological drive to restore or repair objects perceived as damaged by one's aggressive impulses.
Full Definition
Reparation emerges with the depressive position as the individual becomes capable of concern for the object's welfare and guilt about destructive attacks. This involves both unconscious phantasies of restoring the damaged internal object and actual efforts to make amends in external relationships. Reparative processes are essential for healthy development and underlie creativity, altruism, and genuine care for others. In analysis, patients often need to work through reparative phantasies before achieving genuine concern and the capacity for mature relationships.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from legal term 'reparations' and defense mechanism 'undoing.'
In Context
- "His reparation took the form of excessive caregiving that masked underlying guilt about aggressive wishes." — case analysis
- "True reparation requires moving beyond manic defenses to genuine concern for the object." — theoretical paper