INHIBITION OF SYMBOLIZATION, CONTAINING F UNCTION AND PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION IN PSYCHOTIC-CHILDREN AND THEIR TEACHERS

This study aims at a verification of the psychoanalytic theory of proj ective identification and containing function in a population of psych otic children. Theory states that a psychotic child has an inhibition of the symbolic function forcing him to use someone as a container who will symbolize for him. Failure of this containing function would res ult in a dynamic and behavioral regression and a state of confusion. H ypotheses concerning symbolization in two groups of psychotic children , identification of their teachers with them and different aspects of their containing function are tested and discussed.