{"id":6693,"date":"2017-11-27T09:56:12","date_gmt":"2017-11-27T09:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/counsellingtu.onpressidium.com\/?page_id=6693"},"modified":"2021-08-03T14:41:35","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T13:41:35","slug":"object-relations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/counselling-approaches\/object-relations\/","title":{"rendered":"Object Relations Theory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Object Relations Theory<\/h1>\n

\"CT<\/a>Feltham and Dryden (1993: 123) define ‘object relations’ as ‘the relationships within a person’s inner world and between this inner world of relationships and the external relationships with significant others, which are often then internalised’. They continue: ‘The word “object” in psychoanalysis refers to a person or persons (as in “the object of her affections”) and is used quite distinctly from its “objectifying” (dehumanising) sense.’ Douglas (2005: 103) comments: ‘Object relations<\/em> is an unfortunate term for the way people relate to other people.’<\/p>\n\n\t

<\/div>\n\t

Origins of Object Relations Theory<\/h2>\n

As can be seen from the above quotation, object relations theory is part of the modality of psychoanalysis. It began with Sigmund Freud, who initially emphasised ‘the instinctual (inner) drives towards the significance of needing or seeking relationships with other people, and the developmental stages and disturbances pertaining to this’ (Feltham and Dryden, 1993: 123).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Key Names in the Development of Object Relations Theory<\/h2>\n

Object relations theory was further developed by Austrian-British psychoanalyst Melanie Klein, who also worked on the concept of ‘part objects’, describing ‘an exaggerated preoccupation with certain body parts (e.g. breasts) or attributes of others and the resulting tendency not to relate to the whole person’ (Feltham and Dryden, 1993: 130).<\/p>\n

Another key figure in this theory was Scottish psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Ronald Fairbairn, who modified the work of Freud and Klein:<\/p>\n

Fairbairn’s object relations are more purely relational than Klein’s in that real interactions rather than fantasy are afforded primary consideration. Despite his retention of traditional analytic terminology, Fairbairn was one of the first to give meaning to the object relational contention that an ego or true self develops outside the context of interpersonal relationships. (Cashdan, 1988: 12)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Other key names in the development of object relations theory include:<\/p>\n