CITE:Â Ferenczi S. Stages in the Development of the Sense of Reality. In: Jones E, ed. Final Contributions to the Problems and Methods of Psycho-analysis. London: Hogarth Press; 1913. p. 61-94.
SUMMARY
In this paper, Sandor Ferenczi examines the development of the sense of reality in childhood, arguing that it is a gradual process that involves a differentiation between inner and outer reality.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ferenczi suggests that the sense of reality emerges through a process of gradual differentiation, in which the child learns to distinguish between the inner world of fantasy and the outer world of objective reality.
- He argues that the development of the sense of reality is closely tied to the formation of the ego, and that it is a crucial step in the process of psychological maturation.
- Ferenczi’s ideas about the development of the sense of reality have been influential in the field of child psychology and the study of ego development.
SELECTED QUOTES
- “The development of the sense of reality is a long and complicated process that begins in the earliest stages of childhood.” (p. 62)
- “The child’s sense of reality is closely tied to the formation of the ego, and is a crucial step in the process of psychological maturation.” (p. 81)
- “The differentiation of the sense of reality is a gradual process that requires the integration of both inner and outer experiences.” (p. 92)
