SEXUAL EXCITEMENT AND RAGE - BUILDING-BLO CKS OF THE DRIVES .3.

In the first and second part of this paper (issue 2/1997) Kernberg pre sented his ideas on a general theory of drives on the basis of recent findings in affect research. He comes to the conclusion, that the driv es in a classical sense are being constituted of two organizations of self-object-affect units, that each cluster around sexual exitement an d rage as primary affects. Dependent on their curves of intensity, the se affective patterns which are being formed under the influence of co ntextual experience, become repressed later on, or remain accessibilit y to consciousness. Kernberg is explaining the emergence of complex em otions by a modulatory process through ontogeny upon primitive peak le vel affect states according to acquired cognitive contents of experien ce. The presentation is richly illustrated by clinical material.