Overview
Object
relations theory is a variation of the psychoanalytic theory from Sigmund
Freud. The Objects relations theory
argues that human beings are driven by the desire for contact with others. In other words, people have the constant need
to form relationships. Melanie Klein is
credited with developing the Objects Relations Theory. Klein based her theory on the argument that
infants internalize into their unconscious the representations of reality that
they encounter. The objects then become
a basis under which an individual interprets experiences in his or her
life. Klein also argued that infants
experience a spit as they are born and begin experiencing the world around
them.
Splitting is a process that involves looking
at an object as either good or bad based on the experience with the
object. In an infant’s life, the
critical contact is with the mother. The
first object that the child encounters is the mother’s breast. If the breast always provides the infant with
milk, then the child considers the breast as good (Parker, 2008). In contrast, if the breast does not provide
the infant with adequate milk, then he or she perceives the breast as bad. It is only when the child matures that he or
she loses the good and bad categorization as perceives everything as a mix of
good and bad. From Klein’s perspective,
she argued that a child will feel ambivalent towards loved objects because, in
some instances, the object frustrates the child. Therefore, a child will begin to perceive a
breast as bad if it fails to produce milk or a diaper as bad if it wet and
irritating him.
After
Klein, theorists such as Donald Winnicott established their definition and
analysis of the Theory of the Object relations.
Winnicott emphasized on the development of the self-object as a result
of the relationship with the mother.
Winnicott adopted the concept of mirroring where he argued that people
develop a sense of self-worth from the pleasures they see from their mother
faces. An infant thus sees him or
herself from the mother’s eyes. When using Winnicott’s approach in therapy, a
therapist will strive to re-create the mother-child relationship so as to build
his client’s sense of self-worth.
Winnicott perceived that for an individual to acquire a true sense of
the self, he must have a “good-enough mothering” i.e. a mother who is mostly
aware of the child’s desires. For
instance, when a child is hungry, and he cries then immediately his needs are
served, he acquires a feel of omnipotence.
The child begins to believe that he has the potential to make things
happen around him. In contrast, when the child’s needs are not met, he will
develop feelings of emptiness and frustrations (Mandin, 2007). Similarly, when the mother is too good
towards the child, the child may develop a sense of entitlement. The child also becomes independent on the
mother, and the situation may remain so through to adulthood.
Implication of Objects Relations
Theory
The Objects Relations Theory can be effective
in explaining how people relate to other people. It is easy for an individual to judge another
person based on a previous experience with someone else. For instance, a person can have an instant
dislike of another person because the person (although meeting them for the
first time) reminds them of an experience/ object of their past. Similarly, the Object Relations theory can be
used to explain the presence of personality issues. For instance, a person who
fails to love him may develop personality issues. Based on previous experience, a person may
see him or herself as good, bad or perfect.
Objects Therapy Theory in Practice
Psychologists,
therapists, and counselors can use the objects relation theory to evaluate and
assist their clients. The application of
principles of objects relations theory in therapy strives to assist individuals
to identify and address deficits in their interpersonal functioning. Therapists apply the theory with the
expectation that they can help their clients improve the diverse relationships
in their lives. The therapists will
strive to analyze the client’s previous life experiences and how the
experiences impact his life. In fact,
the therapist aims to understand how childhoods object/experience impact
current, behavior, emotions, and relationships.
Therapists
also strive to determined aspects of the self that were split and
repressed. It is by bringing out the
areas of split and allowing the individual to discuss them that the path
towards recovery can be established (Parker, 2008). Therapists also use their client’s life
experience to determine their experience of good and bad objects. The therapist then establishes how the client
interacted with the good and bad object thus resulting in influence in his or
her life.
Therapists
strive to analyze a client’s behavior based on infantile object relations and
defenses presented by their client. In
the introductory stages of the therapy, the client strives to understand the
inner world, family background, trusts so that the client becomes more open and
engaging during the session. The therapist then takes notes of the client’s
behavior and makes a connection with the past and present experiences that the
client highlights.
Objects relations theory is also used in
family therapy. Object-relations family
therapy aims at assisting dysfunctional families to overcome their deep-rooted
problems. According to Mandin, (2007),
the family comprises of a small group of members who have interconnected roles
and relationships. The objects-relations family therapy perceives insight as
for the necessary precursor to change.
The therapy also strives to make the unconscious to become conscious so
as to enhance interpersonal relationships.
Overall, object-relations therapy is critical in enhancing the
understanding of human functioning as an expression of individual intrapsychic
fields that interact with each other as well as with the family, community and
culture. Object relations theory is also
effective in understanding and resolving the problem of domestic violence. The theory can be applied in therapy to
explain how a relationship based on love can turn sour and become filled with
hatred and violence. In most instances,
therapists always find an experience that links a perpetrator of domestic
violence with his or her current actions (Mandin, 2007). The therapist thus revisits the past, address
the underlying issue and find a solution.
It is by resolving and or helping an individual understand a previous life
experience that bad behavior can be resolved.
Limitations
There
has been criticism that therapists applying the object relations theory in
their practice are ignoring the fact that medical conditions such as autism and
psychosis cannot be resolved through therapy. Modern object relations theorists
appreciate that some patient need additional forms of therapies as well as
pharmacological interventions so as to make a full recovery. The application of
objects relation theory in therapy also requires a lot of patience and time as
it aims to address deep-rooted perception and concerns. The recovery process may thus take years
unlike other approaches of therapy. The
duration of the therapy also reflects a high cost of care (Mandin, 2007).
Conclusion
Object
relations theory is a branch oof psychoanalytic theory. Object relations theory focuses on
interpersonal relationships and how they influence a person in later life. Specifically, object relations theory
addresses relations in the family and to be precise, relations between the
mother and the child. At birth, the
mother is the first object that the child interacts with and the form of
relationship formed from the mother-child bond can build or destroy the child later
in their lives. The term object thus
refers to the person while relations refer to the residues of a previous
relationship. The perception of the
relationship that the child had can influence personality and a person’s sense
of self-worth. Therapists have applied the theory in assisting their clients to
resolve their problems. Interpersonal and behavioral problems arising from a
person’s childhood can only be resolved by revisiting the past..
Reference
Mandin,
P. (2007). The contribution of systems and object-relation theories to an understanding
of the therapeutic relationship in social work practice. Journal Of Social Work
Practice, 21(2), 149-162. Doi: 10.1080/02650530701371861
Parker,
S. (2008). Winnicott's object relations theory and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Journal of Psychology & Theology, 36(4), 285-293
Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in college research paper services if you need a similar paper you can place your order for best essay services online.
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