Article archive / August 1, 2011
Originally published: . Volume 2, No. 12. Source pages: 10, 17.
Contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice, referred to as Object Relations, is an evolution of classical psychoanalytic theory. The term “object” was coined by Freud, and is synonymous with the word person or people. Hence the term “Object Relations” refers to psychoanalytic theory based on the relationship between objects (people). Where classical psychoanalysis is sometimes referred to as a psychology of one, object relations theory is a psychology of more than one, with the actual developmental relationship serving as the basis of personality and future relationships (This is what Freud meant when he said that there is no such thing as a new relationship, that all relationships are superimposed over old relationships). More specifically, both the outside object and the relationship with that object are introjected by the developing mind. In this way Object Relations theory stands congruent with other exciting and cutting edge developmental theories such as Bowlby's Attachment Theory. Due to these origins, however, Object Relations theory is based on the same assumptions of classical psychoanalytic theory.
Of course, a central assumption of Object Relations theory is the recognition of an “unconscious mind,” that influences behavior and that produces the symptoms of psychopathology. In addition, Object Relations theory is based on the assumption (like all psychoanalytic theory) that symptoms have symbolic meaning. As such, the role of the therapist is the accurate reading of that symbolism as fodder for treatment.
Also central to Object Relations theory is the assumption that personality and psychopathology have a developmental etiology, i.e. symptoms result from a disruption in the developmental sequence, and that earlier breaks in the developmental sequence are associated with more severe pathology. Nonetheless, these disruptions are not necessarily the result of the horrible trauma of common lore. While abuse and neglect are certainly pathogenic, more often these breaks in the developmental sequence are found to be the result of much more banal events (e.g. a second colicky baby results in the caregiver being unavailable to the other child).
Developmental Sequencing
Within the confines of our mind we all carry an “internal map” or schema of the outside world. But this is not so for the newborn. In the immediate postnatal period a child has no memory traces nor can they focus their eyes. Thus, they have no “internal map” as we know it. Nonetheless, during this time the child does have a crude understanding of self and mother, which exist internally as one ephemeral unit. As such, both the internal world and the external world are represented in the unconscious by one object. As development progresses, however, visual acuity improves and memory traces accumulate. Soon an infant begins to differentiate between the external world and the internal world (i.e. there is someone out there and I am in here). This then becomes the building blocks of what will eventually become "the mind:” two individual objects, one representing mother and one representing self. Disruption of this stage can later lead to a state in which the patient is unable to differentiate between the outside world and the internal world. Problems related to this early developmental stage can later result in a state in which the patient is unable to differentiate between internal "voices" and external "voices." Hence, Object Relation theory provides a psychological explanation for auditory hallucinations (my apologies to the chemical imbalance industry). As time moves on, however, these single objects are unable to represent the infant's ever expanding world. This is especially true for emotions. Angry, blue-in-the-face baby cannot be represented with the same object as happy, loving baby at the breast. Similarly, “mother the-caretaker-and- provider” cannot be represented with the same object as “neglectful-make-me-wait-she's- trying-to-kill-me mother.” As such, baby now uses a very primitive defense mechanism to rectify the situation: a splitting defense. In this regard the infant now develops dual objects for both self and mother, and the emotion that accompanies those objects. Now the infant has two separate objects for self (good baby/bad baby) and for mother (good mother/bad mother), and the emotions (actually instincts) that accompany these objects: libido and aggression, respectively. As time moves on, however, baby begins to understand that good mother and bad mother are actually the same person, as is good baby and bad baby, and a merging of the objects occurs. With this merger baby can now experience people (and themselves) as whole objects, with both good and bad qualities. Accompanying this is also a merger of the emotions/instincts that are associated with each object. Hence, the aggressive instinct is now tempered by libido, and the pure rage that is a product of pre- merged (split) objects is no longer produced. Problems related to this stage produce a condition in which splitting is the major defense and rage is still experienced (i.e., a borderline condition).
As you can see, Object Relations theory, similar to classical psychoanalytic theory, can account for the clinical conditions that many face daily in their practice. Although space limitations limit further discussion, I feel I would be remiss if I did not at least mention the curative (rather than palliative) aspects of psychoanalytic treatment. Just as pathology is caused by early problematic relationships, the curative aspects of treatment also rest on the relationship. Although the exact mechanics are still pondered, the psychoanalytic relationship is what is therapeutic i.e. that it is introjected by the patient, to replace or mitigate early malignant relationships.
Dr. Cerwonka is in private practice in Lafayette. He completed his doctoral training at Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, and his post-doctoral training at Columbia University.
Dr. Michael Schwartz from New York (L) and Dr. Eric Cerwonka, who received his training in New York, discuss issues at the LPA convention. Dr. Schwartz was a guest presenter and will Chair a program at APA.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.