Marilia Aisenstein will lead us on a journey inside the mind of the newborn infant to demonstrate how human beings develop the capacity for waiting, a state that involves a pleasurable experience that paves the way for desire. Referencing Freud’s concept of “primary masochism” Ms. Aisenstein shows that having a “good enough mother”– who through words and actions signals to the infant that she is nearby and will be gratifying her soon— promotes the formation of healthy, internalized mental representations in the infant.  It is these internalized structures that allow the infant to integrate the capacity for waiting. Ms. Aisenstein will also discuss what happens when inadequate maternal provisions derail this process. Using clinical vignettes, she describes the nature of this impairment in patients with borderline organization: “[their] anti-cathexis is so drastic that it paralyzes the preconscious and isolates the unconscious”, thus thwarting the infant being able to tolerate delayed gratification, and ultimately impedes the development of the capacity for desire. Ms. Aisenstein will discuss ways that the analyst facilitates the repair of these ruptures through intensive treatment.

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