Major concepts Self psychology

1 major concepts

1.1 self
1.2 empathy
1.3 selfobjects
1.4 optimal frustration
1.5 idealizing
1.6 alter ego/twinship needs
1.7 tripolar self

major concepts
self

kohut explained, in 1977, in wrote on psychology of self, purposely did not define self. explained reasoning way: self...is, reality...not knowable in essence...we can describe various cohesive forms in self appears, can demonstrate several constituents make self ... , explain genesis , functions. can still not know essence of self differentiated manifestations.

empathy

kohut maintained parents failures empathize children , responses of children these failures @ root of psychopathology . kohut, loss of other , other s self-object ( selfobject ) function (see below) leaves individual apathetic, lethargic, empty of feeling of life, , without vitality – in short, depressed.

the infant moving grandiose cohesive self , beyond must go through slow process of disillusionment phantasies of omnipotence, mediated parents: process of gradual , titrated disenchantment requires infant s caretakers empathetically attuned infant s needs .

correspondingly, patient deal in therapy earlier failures in disenchantment process, kohut therapist highlights empathy tool par excellence, allows creation of relationship between patient , analyst can offer hope of mitigating self pathology .

in comparison earlier psychoanalytic approaches, use of empathy, kohut called vicarious introspection , allows therapist reach conclusions sooner (with less dialogue , interpretation), , create stronger bond patient, making patient feel more fundamentally understood. kohut, implicit bond of empathy has curative effect, warned psychoanalyst ... must able relinquish empathic attitude maintain intellectual integrity, , empathy, when surrounded attitude of wanting cure directly ... may rest on therapist s unresolved omnipotence fantasies .)

the conceptual introduction of empathy not intended discovery. empathic moments in psychology existed long before kohut. instead, kohut posited empathy in psychology should acknowledged powerful therapeutic tool, extending beyond hunches , vague assumptions, , enabling empathy described, taught, , used more actively.

selfobjects

selfobjects external objects function part of self machinery – i.e., objects not experienced separate , independent self . persons, objects or activities complete self, , necessary normal functioning. kohut describes interactions between infant , caretakers involving infant s self , infant s selfobjects .

observing patient s selfobject connections fundamental part of self-psychology. instance, person s particular habits, choice of education , work, taste in life partners, may fill selfobject-function particular individual.

selfobjects addressed throughout kohut s theory, , include transference phenomenon in therapy, relatives, , items (for instance linus van pelt s security blanket): cover phenomena described winnicott transitional objects. among great variety of selfobject relations support cohesion, vigor, , harmony of adult self ... [are] cultural selfobjects (the writers, artists, , political leaders of group – nation, example – person feels belongs) .

if psychopathology explained incomplete or defect self, self-objects might described self-prescribed cure .

as described kohut, selfobject-function (i.e. selfobject self) taken granted , seems take place in blindzone . function not become visible until relation selfobject somehow broken.

when relationship established new selfobject, relationship connection can lock in place quite powerfully, , pull of connection may affect both self , selfobject. powerful transference, instance, example of phenomenon.

optimal frustration

when selfobject needed, not accessible, create potential problem self, referred frustration – traumatic frustration of phase appropriate wish or need parental acceptance ... intense narcissistic frustration .

the contrast kohut called optimal frustration ; , considered that, holds true analogous later milieu of child, important aspect of earliest mother-infant relationship principle of optimal frustration. tolerable disappointments ... lead establishment of internal structures provide basis self-soothing.

in parallel way, kohut considered skilful analyst ... conduct analysis according principle of optimal frustration .

suboptimal frustrations, , maladaptations following them, may compared freud s trauma concept, or problem solution in oedipal phase. however, scope of optimal (or other) frustration describes shaping every nook , cranny of self, rather few dramatic conflicts.

idealizing

kohut saw idealizing central aspect of narcissism. therapeutic activation of omnipotent object (the idealized parent image) ... referred idealizing transference, revival during psychoanalysis of need establish mutual selfobject connection object of idealization.

in terms of kleinian school ... idealizing transference may cover of territory of so-called projective identification .

for young child, idealized selfobjects provide experience of merger calm, power, wisdom, , goodness of idealized persons .

alter ego/twinship needs

alter ego/twinship needs refer desire in development feel alikeness other human beings. freud had noted idea of double ... sprung soil of unbounded self-love, primary narcissism holds sway in mind of child. lacan highlighted mirror stage ... of normal transitivism. child strikes says has been struck; child sees fall, cries. in 1960, arlow observed, existence of individual reflection of self brings experience of twinship in line psychology of double, of mirror image , of double .

kohut pointed out fantasies, referring relationship such alter ego or twin (or conscious wishes such relationship) encountered in analysis of narcissistic personalities , , termed transference activation alter-ego transference or twinship .

as development continues, greater degree of difference others can accepted.

the tripolar self

the tripolar self not associated bipolar disorder, sum of 3 poles of body:

grandiose-exhibitionistic needs
need omnipotent idealized figure
alter-ego needs

kohut argued reactivation of grandiose self in analysis occurs in 3 forms: these relate specific stages of development ... (1) archaic merger through extension of grandiose self; (2) less archaic form called alter-ego transference or twinship; , (3) still less archaic form ... mirror transference .

alternately, self psychologists divide selfobject transference 3 groups: (1) in damaged pole of ambitions attempts elicit confirming-approving response of selfobject (mirror transference); (2) in damaged pole of ideals searches selfobject accept idealisation (idealising transference); , in damaged intermediate area of talents , skills seeks ... alter ego transference.

the tripolar self forms result of needs of individual binding interactions of other significant persons within life of individual.