1. North American Object Relations Theories
Dr. Geoff Goodman

2. I. Two North American Object Relations Theorists
Otto Kernberg
Heinz Kohut

3. II. Heinz Kohut’s Theory
Mental representations form out of two relational experiences with self object (need-gratifying caregiver)
1. mirroring infant’s achievements, talents, exhibitionism
2. permission for infant to idealize self object and fantasize merger with its powerfulness

4. B. Gradual frustration of needs --> transmitting internalizations
1. gradual modulation of infantile omnipotence
2. consolidation of nuclear self
a. realistic ambitions
b. loved ideals

5. C. Two poles of self
1. grandiose, exhibitionistic trend (need for mirroring)
2. idealizing self object relationship (need for idealization)
3. failure to develop at least one pole
-->narcissistic psychopathology
a. defective sense of self
b. unstable level of self-esteem

6. D. Psychopathology
1. failures of self object mirroring and permission to idealize
2. drives-- byproducts of deterioration of the self
a. obsessions with food
b. anality
c. hypersexuality
3. external substances used as compensatory structures to bolster enfeebled, defective self

7. E. Modifications to drive theory
1. libido divided into two categories
a. narcissistic libido
b. object libido
2. object libido related to classical model with whole objects and cohesive self
3. narcissistic libido related to investment in self, blocked by lack of self object responsiveness

8. F. Technical considerations
1. jumpstart developmental arrest at normal developmental phase
a. deficit in transmitting internalization
b. facilitate internalization of self object
1) accept admiration
2) support exhibitionistic needs

9. Continued… 2. inevitable empathic failures of self object
a. no need for external mirroring
b. no need for the opportunity for idealization
3. problems with mixed model--drives are normal or pathological?

10. III. Otto Kernberg A. Tripartite model of personality organization
psychotic personality organization
borderline personality organization
neurotic personality organization
B. Focus on borderline personality organization
1. nonspecific manifestation of ego weakness
a. lack of anxiety tolerance--primitive defensiveness
b. lack of impulse control--reflects increase in anxiety vs. creative enjoyment and creative achievement
c. lack of sublimatory channels- no interests or hobbies

11. Continued…
2. specific, stable, pathological personality organization--not transitory state
3. poor quality object relations
4. identity diffusion
5. intact reality testing (mention IPO)-- psychotic only during stressful periods
6. primitive defenses

12. C. Psychopathology
introjections and identifications established under influence of libidinal drive derivatives built up separately from those established under influence of aggressive drive derivatives
at first, ego does not have integrative capacity

13. Continued…
3. later, defensively kept apart by operation of splitting to prevent generalization of anxiety and to protect ego core around positive integration (Klein)
4. differentiation of self and objects under gratification of needs

14. Continued… 5. refusion of self and object components can occur when
a. lack of development of primary process of autonomy
b. constitutionally determined lack of anxiety tolerance
c. excessive frustration in reality leading to excessive development of aggression
d. constitutionally determined excessive development of aggressive drives

15. Continued… 6. splitting 7. primitive idealization
8. early forms of projection, especially projection identification (mention controlling-caregiving, controlling-punitive subtypes of D)
9. denial--in service of splitting
10. omnipotent control and devaluation

16. D. Technical considerations
integrate split-off self and object representations
sequence of interventions
a. clarification
b. confrontation
c. interpretation