Term Paper on "Object Relations Theory and Therapy"
Term Paper 8 pages (2409 words) Sources: 3
[EXCERPT] . . . .
Object Relations TheoryDevelopment of behavior disorders and object relations theory
Object relations (or) theory revolves around the internalization and externalization of good and bad "objects," especially the mother and breast, beginning in infancy. The infant is not yet able to reconcile good and bad feelings for mother and breast, so therefore keeps the good and bad versions separate and distinct. In addition, the infant attempts to control the scary feelings of aggression and anger toward mother by internalizing them as part of the self; this also occurs with positive emotion (Murdock, 2009). Or theorists believe that these good and bad internalized objects become the basis for the self and determine how the infant will grow to relate to others later in life. A healthy child who was raised by a "good enough mother" will be able to integrate the good and bad objects into a whole person and develop healthy, empathic relationships based on genuine intimacy and realistic expectations (Murdock, 2009). On the other hand, if mother is not "good enough" (she doesn't provide a "safe holding environment" in which the infant can learn to contain emotions and integrate internal and external realities through quiet time), the infant will remain at least partially "stuck" in an immature, schizoid, split-off sense of self and others (Murdock, 2009). Or theorists believe it is this failure to properly integrate good and bad, internal and external, that leads to behavior disorders and destructive relationships.
Put another way, Fairbairn, one of the fathers of or theory, believed that psychopathology and behavior disorders develop as a result of disturbed object
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During adolescence, when the self's inner schema of object relations is once again upset as dramatic developmental changes are taking place, any underlying issues will likely surface (Kelly, 1997). This is why so many behavior disorders become apparent during the teenage years. This is also why therapy during these critical years can help to alter and redefine object relations for a healthier, more cohesive and integrated personality (Kelly, 1997).
Goals of object relations therapy
or therapy is an offshoot of psychoanalysis. Beginning with Melanie Klein in the 1920s, Freudian philosophy split off into two groups: the Kleinian London group -- who recognized the importance of an infant's desire to establish supportive relationships as internalized and externalized "objects," on top of Freud's drive theory; and the Freudian Viennese school -- still centered around the ego, superego, id, aggressive and sexual drives, and the release of tensions (Murdock, 2009). Later, Fairbairn, Winnicott, and Kernberg would take over the field of object relations in Europe and America. Fairbairn was the most radical, believing that some object relationships could in fact be formed with inanimate objects such as stuffed toys or blankets (Murdock, 2009). In Kernberg's own words:
"When, as children, we relate to important people in our lives, we internalize the memory of intense emotional states we experienced during our interactions with them, and these intense emotional states get organized in two parallel series of loving and hateful emotions. These emotions are imbedded in the relationship between representations of the self and representations of significant others. In fact, the concept of basic, dyadic units (of self representation-object representation-affect state linking them) as "building blocks" of the supraordinate structure of the ego, superego, and id is the central concept of contemporary psychoanalytic object relations theory." Otto Kernberg, 1998 (McGinn, 1998, p. 192)
The ultimate goal of or therapy is to recreate a healthy, integrated self by interpreting and redefining a person's object relations and attendant emotions, stemming back to infancy. This healthy self can then relate to other people in mutually-beneficial ways, rather than repeating self-destructive or dysfunctional behavior patterns based on disturbed object relations. The or therapist is tasked with interpreting the patient's inner world and negative, aggressive emotions, and providing a basis for proper integration by serving as a new good object for the patient (Buckley, an Object Relations Perspective on the Nature of Resistance and Therapeutic Change, 1996).
The process of change in object relations theory
or therapy has three major phases. In the first phase, the therapist must "diagnose the dominant unconscious object relationship from the past that is repeated" in the present transference to the therapist (McGinn, 1998, p. 192). In other words, the interpretation of primitive object relations constructs can occur when a patient begins relating to the therapist in the same maladaptive ways he relates to others (transference) (McGinn, 1998).
The second phase begins after this projection of dysfunctional object relations onto the therapist takes place and can be analyzed. During this stage, the therapist must be aware of the primitive defense mechanisms at play during the transference, such as projective identification, dissociation, or introjection, and the therapist's own countertransference emotional stance (McGinn, 1998). It is critical that rather than being reactive, the or therapist maintains "technical neutrality" toward the patient, expressing adequate empathy but otherwise remaining objective and informative (McGinn, 1998; Scharff & Scharff, 1997). At this point, transformation can begin to take place because rather than responding the way a "normal" person would to the dysfunctional behaviors, the therapist attempts to analyze and understand the behavior from an object-relations perspective, and passes this understanding along to the patient so that it becomes conscious and controllable (McGinn, 1998).
In the third and final phase of or therapy, healthy integration takes place between the painful, guilt-inducing, split-off hatred for the object or objects, and the equally compelling love for those same objects (McGinn, 1998). As a result of early trauma or abuse, the patient has dissociated from reality, creating a tendency to see the world and its people (objects) as either "all- good or all-bad" (McGinn, 1998, p. 192). This habit can be overcome if the therapist knows how to direct the patient to see his maladaptive stance for what it truly is: an attempt to avoid cognitive dissonance in critical relationships, and an attempt to avoid conflict and pain by creating one relationship that is all-good and another that acts as a scapegoat for all the bad (McGinn, 1998). According to Buckley (1996): "The greatest source of resistance is postulated to be patient's fear of the terrifying world that would be faced if such repressed internal objects enter consciousness. He further posits that such bad objects can only be safely released if the analyst has become established as a good object for the patient." The patient must learn that the target of their love and hate is one and the same; only then can they relate to that object with empathy from their authentic, whole self.
Therapeutic… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Object Relations Theory and Therapy" Assignment:
Please follow this format:
1) Development of behavior disorders (10pts) Discuss object relations theory about how symptoms develop and are maintained
2.) Gooals of object relations therapy (10 pts)
3.) The process of change in object relations theory (30pts) What therapuetic steps does this model outline in order to acheive the goals of therapy? Be specific about what occurs in the begining middle and termination stages of therapy within the object relations model.
4.) Therapeutic techniques (30pts) Describe two techniques commonly used in this model using the following format for each technique: a) description of the technique, summarizing the basic procedures that are followed b)purpose of the technique (includes how it relates to acheiving the goals of therapy described in #2) c) stage of therapy (beginnning, middle and end) where the technique is most useful.
5.)therapists role (10pts) how does your chosen model describe the therapists role in the therapy process?
6.) Personal reflection Describe how this model will be a good fit for you and a challenge for you and and may or may not fit with the population that you want to work with. *****
How to Reference "Object Relations Theory and Therapy" Term Paper in a Bibliography
“Object Relations Theory and Therapy.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2011, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/object-relations-theory-development/8035528. Accessed 29 Sep 2024.
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