Abstract

REZENDE ENGELBERG DE MORAES, Ariadne Alvarenga. The false-self defense and the depressive state. Winnicott e-prints [online]. 2010, vol.5, n.1, pp. 1-16. ISSN 1679-432X.

Taking into account the theme of the organized defense of the false self as Winnicott's theoretical contribution to psychoanalysis, I try to highlight the connection between this defense and the depressive states. Having this purpose in mind, I show that Winnicott relies on the personal maturation to have a wider comprehension of the defense mechanisms when he realized that the defenses related to the stage of the mother-baby unity couldn't be traditionally considered as ego defenses. Aspects concerning the accomplishment and the preservation of the integration are also analyzed as well as the connection of these points with the establishment of a false self, suggesting that throughout this development, Winnicott had to review concepts and add new terms to the psychoanalytical theory.

Keywords : psychoanalysis; Winnicott; defenses; false self; depression.