Object Relations FT Key figures
James Framo
Norman Paul
Jill & David Scharff
Rejecting object
Gives rise to the ANTILIBIDINAL EGO
Antilibidinal ego
The part of the ego that is formed from interactions with the REJECTING OBJECT
Antilibidinal system
Characterized by aggression, rage, and contempt;
An unconscious, repressed system within the ego
Exciting object
Gives rise to the LIBIDINAL EGO;
aka overstimulating object
Libidinal ego
The part of the ego that is formed from interactions with the EXCITING OBJECT
Libidinal system
Characterized by longing, need, and excitement;
An unconscious, repressed system within the ego
Ideal object
A neutral object freed from exciting and rejecting aspects;
Maintained by the CENTRAL EGO
Central ego
Conscious, adaptable, and free to deal with future experiences with attachment figures in reasonable ways;
Maintains the IDEAL OBJECT
Projection
An unconscious defense in which unwanted feelings or beliefs about oneself are split off and then attributed to others.
Projective identification
An interactive and dysfunctional defense mechanism in which unwanted characteristics of the self are unconsciously projected onto (attribute to) another person who colludes by behaving as if these projections are true of them;
e.g., father has impulse to
Fairbarin
Asserted that the fundamental human drive was the need to be in relationship (not the gratification of drives)
Melanie Klein
Child analyst who explored the function of Fruedian instincts;
Discussed projection and splitting objects as a way of thinking about interactions in families
Bion, Ezriel, & Turquet
Extended Klein's work from individuals to groups;
Observed projective identification in groups
John Bowlby
ORT draws from this work on the fundamental human need for attachment + the destructive effects of early separation from caregivers
Course of treatment (ORT)
INSIGHT, fostered by use of TRANSFERENCE, is a necessary precursor for change + WORKING THROUGH is an essential step in mastering gains from insight
Insight
The process of clients gaining understanding of underlying, unconscious dynamic issues that affect relationships
Working through
Process of translating INSIGHT -> new and more productive ways of behaving and interacting
Transference
Used to foster INSIGHT;
Unconscious tendency to attribute to OFM/Tx unresolved drives, attitudes feelings, and fantasies from previous relationships + reenact them
Interpretation
Use of reenactment of TRANSFERENCE to make unconscious memories available;
Delivery of a tx's hypothesis, as a statement, re: historic underlying causes of current difficulties
Affect (ORT)
A signal from the unconscious;
Promotes learning and change when linked to interpretations
Level of intervention (ORT)
Interior of the family and its relation to the developing interiors of its individual members
ORT + Bowen
Both emphasize the need for a therapist to work toward clarification of personal past influences in order to help clients;
Similarly lengthy (2+ yrs)
Henry Dicks
Applied ORT to couples therapy;
The CENTRAL EGO seeks a partner and expects him/her to conform to the IDEAL OBJECT
Joseph Sandler
ORT analyst;
Families that lack structure / those w/out clearly defined roles are likely to raise children with vague ego identities
Scharff & Scharff
Mate selection is conscious and unconscious;
Healthy marital relations consist of a CENTRAL EGO in close contact with the LIBIDINAL EGO (creates conflict);
Relationship can be used to build an atmosphere that allows undesirable aspects of the self to be c
James Framo
Combines intergenerational and ORT in FT;
Based largely on Fairbairn's work, and expands by working with a couple/s and FOOs;
Provides opportunity to deal with FOO issues directly: promotes deeper understanding, corrective experiences, opportunity for mor
Framo's theory of normal development + dysfunction
The need for parental acceptance and approval is so strong that a child will sacrifice ego identity to maintain the relationship;
Repeated interactions -> unconscious internalization of representations (distortions) of parents (OBJECTS)... forms the INTRO
Objects
Unconscious internal representations of caregivers that incorporates distortions based on subjective experiences and perceptions
Introject
Internalized object;
Experienced as being either good or bad;
Influences current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Introjection
A process of normal development in which parts of caretakers are split off and internalized in the child's developing personality;
Expectations of self and others are based on these internal representations (may be mature, overly rejecting, or inappropria
Symptoms (ORT)
Manifestations of distorted introjections
Treatment (ORT/Framo)
1) Gathering information about present situation and presenting problems + brief sketch of FOO
2) Bring the FOO into session in order to alleviate problems in current relationships (separate from spouses)
3) Insight -> working through (changes in interact
ORT Techniques
Listening
Empathy
Interpretation
Therapeutic neutrality (no focus on problem solving or symptom relief)
Repressed or split off traits assumed in childhood...
are projected onto other people as the child matures... and lead to placement of unrealistic demands on later partners
Categories of adult child relations to FOO (Framo)
1) over-involved w/out social life outside of FOO
2) superficially involved, w/ visits out of duty
3) uninvolved or cut-off ("free of influence")
4) appropriately involved
The dirty middle
Framo's term for the impasse the couples reach after some insight and improvement while maintaining irreconcilable differences/conceptions of marriage;
Point at which Framo brings in FOO
FOO Sessions (Framo)
Way to "loosen the grip of internalized representatives";
Work to support client and FOO w/out blame;
Look for opportunities for genuine corrective experiences to establish adult-adult relationships with client's parents