When a child internalizes the image of his mother into a good object and a bad object,he is engaging in:
A)projective identification
B)splitting.
C)identifying.
D)differentiating.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The child is engaging in splitting, which is the psychological mechanism of dividing people or things into either all good or all bad. The child sees his mother as a good object when she meets his needs, but as a bad object when she frustrates his needs. Projective identification involves projecting one's own unconscious feelings onto another person, identifying involves taking on the characteristics of another person, and differentiating involves distinguishing one object or person from another.

When a Child Internalizes the Image of His Mother into a Good