Analysis of a five-and-a-half-year-old girl: indications for a dyadicphallic phase of development.

The presentation of the analysis of a five-and-a-half-year-old girl highlighted a personality configuration with multiple fixation points (some preoedipal) organized around an early phallic structure. The sequence of this analysis underscored characteristics of the early phallic phase of development as a transitional phase between dyadic and triadic and preoedipal and oedipal levels. The term dyadic-phallic was introduced to emphasize the special feature of this phase. A phallic drive-organization is on the ascendancy while object constancy is not yet sufficiently consolidated to permit the shift from dyadic to triadic patterns and the accompanying consolidation and differentiation of basic ego functions. Preoedipal fears of separation, loss, and fragmentation exist alongside phallic wishes and fears of moving ahead into a full oedipal configuration. Character traits embodying phallic-narcissistic styles of relating to other and self conceal these fears and hold together an otherwise fragile personality organization. It is proposed that this level of development may serve as an organizing point for many character disorders which embody earlier fixation points, including many of the narcissistic character disorders.