Psychoanalytic elements in child envy Melanie Klein and Augustine on original sin

Abstract

Melanie Klein’s emphasis on destructive impulses in children was sceptically interpreted within psychoanalytical discourse as an extension of the Christian concept of original sin. This study further expands on this understanding and correlates Klein’s theories with Augustine’s teachings on humanity’s concupiscence and original sin. The focus of this exploration are affects in early child development, in particular envy and its fundamental role in the fall of Adam and Eve. Both Augustine and Klein recognise a destructive potential as the conditio of humans without conceding to it as a determining factor. This approach opens up a possible dialogue between theological anthropology and psychoanalysis.