This integration is traumatic. The child now knows that its own aggressive phantasies have been directed at the same beloved being who provides love and food. Hence arises —not fear of punishment, but genuine grief for the loved object that has been (in phantasy) damaged.

Similarly, Klein's theories can inform parenting practices and educational strategies. By understanding the critical role of early relationships in shaping the child's conscience, parents and caregivers can foster a more supportive and nurturing environment, one that promotes healthy psychological development.

In another example (1937, Love, Guilt and Reparation ), a boy of 6 constantly built towers only to knock them down, then frantically rebuild. Klein interpreted: the tower was the mother’s body; knocking it down was his Oedipal rage; rebuilding was reparation. His conscience operated not through verbal rules but through this repetitive cycle of destruction and restoration.