ABSTRACT
From its inception the superego concept has been historically at the center of a process of scientific convergence-yet it has always presented difficulties in conceptualizing. In this paper, a condensed literature review selectively explore: (1) Freud's fundamental contributions to this concept; (2) major trends in the psychoanalytic exploration of the concept, as they derived from Freud's germinal ideas and; (3) some "stumbling blocks" which may have interfered with efforts at intergration of the superego concept. An object-relational frame of reference, incorporating Kernberg's recent contributions and his efforts at integration in this field at large, as well as Jacobson's contributions as they relate to superego concept in particular are briefly considered. Such a frame of reference is then applied in an effort at describing a sequential development of the superego in four progressively differentiated and integrated phases: (1) agressively derived primitive sadistic superego forerunners; (2) integration of aggressively derived, primitive superego forerunners and ideal self-object representations; (3) oedipally-derived superego and (4) post-oedipal superego individualization. Toward the end some succinct considerations regarding superego pathology are given and paths for possible further integration and exploration are suggested.
