Aspects Of Object Relations Theory Essay

Relational theory is built on the assumption that there is an inherent tendency for people to maintain relationships with others (Hutchinson, 2015). Relational theory is the integration of several psychodynamic theories, such as object-relations theory, self-psychology, and interpersonal psychoanalysis, into a larger perspective which acknowledges that the mind exist in relation to others (Segal, 2013). This theory’s origins in psychodynamic theory can be seen in key concepts such as the assertion that human behavior is significantly impacted by past relational patterns (Segal, 2013). Although past relationships are viewed as influential, relational theorist maintain individuals’ can exercise agency and that actions can be influenced but

There were twelve children in each pre-school class, and there were two classes in the room I was assigned to. The children I interacted with ranges from four to five years old and came from socially diverse backgrounds. Hence, the observation and interaction I had with each child is different but did not entirely deviated from the expected level of maturity based on the various developmental theories. During this assignment, I observed the children regularly interacting with each other, honing their interpersonal skills through various activities. Although, the children tend to be egocentric at times, fighting over every pieces of Lego, as they struggle to see things from the perspective of other children. In particular, the children often bickers in vying for play time with me and the other teachers. However, in most cases, the children themselves resolved their squabble; a testament to Erikson’s theory, as they develop a sense of initiative and security in their ability to lead and make decisions. A true sign of the children’s developmental maturity.

New needs and tensions will arise in each area of life initiating one to seek new ways of adapting to these new found stressors. In return this forces them to form different kinds of intimate relationships. This maturation helps forms one’s personality (Kowalski, & Westen, 2002). “Relationships formed during each stage of life serve as a prototype for interactions in later stages. For this reason, there exists a continuum of relationships formed throughout a lifetime that shape and mold specific personality traits. Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, and Lawrence Kohlberg, describe development as a series of stages. A stage is a period in development in which people exhibit typical behavior patterns and establish particular capacities” (Kowalski, & Westen, 2002). “The various stage theories share three assumptions: First people pass through stages in a specific order, with each stage building on capacities developed in the previous stage, second stages most related to one’s age, third development is discontinuous, with qualitatively different capacities emerging in each stage” (Kowalski, & Westen, 2002).

As a child, developing relationships with other people is crucial to

Social experiences play a vital role in the development of children. Theories of child development have been created to help us to understand how children’s minds develop, taking into account the differences between cultures around the world. Some of these theories explore the possibility that children gain knowledge, develop new concepts and bridge new ideas through interaction with experience and cognitive schemata. Some theories explore the theory that development also plays a role in social experience.

Caregivers play a primary role in how a child may develop. The daily interaction between the caregiver and child continually changes the pathway in which the child may take. How the child is raised and the parenting style used is a significant influence on that development by affecting the relationship between parent and child. This supports the Attachment theory in which emphasizes relationship between the child and caregiver as a key factor in development.

The purpose of this article was to give a better understanding of the framework created by the attachment theory as well as the family systems theory and the after effects of childhood sexual abuse later in their life. The research was conducted by studying different women between the ages of 35 to 65 that were survivors of sexual abuse as a child. These women answered specific questions about their childhood and the abuse they experienced. Such questions include the age they were when the abuse took place, who was the abuser, the feelings that were triggered during the abuse, the feelings they experience now, and how they make and perceive the interpersonal relationships in their life’s today.

I chose to discuss and compare Melanie Klein’s Object Relations Theory with Abraham Maslow’s Humanistic approach through the Hierarchy of Needs, in terms of how eating disorders can arise. In Melanie Klein’s ‘Object Relations Theory’, She discusses the effect of the internalized relations with primary caretakers during infancy (i.e. internal and external objects), and their unconscious influence on the nature of future relationships. According to object relations theorists, children do not only internalize the object itself, but also the entire relationship. The infant internalizes two sets of object relations– both positive and negative– which include representations of the self, the object, and the emotion that links between the two. In Abraham

There has been some recent argument against the current understanding of the place of relationships in psychotherapy. While most theories argue that relationships are important or even essential to good mental health, other theorists claim that the way relationships are conceptualized in these theories is insufficient (Slife & Wiggins, 2009). Most of these theories conceptualize the individuals first, and then talk about the way these individuals relate. Relationships are often understood as two or more independent self-contained individuals interacting (Slife & Wiggins, 2009). An alternative way to look at relationships is offered by relational psychoanalysts and other theorists, though again it should be noted that

Years on, many researches and observations have been undertaken and new psychoanalytical theories started to reject Freud's and Erikson's staged view on child development and replaced it by introducing child emotional development in the context of development of self and attachment with significant others.

the theory. He thereby revolutionized our thinking about a child’s tie to the mother and its

Child development is an amazing thing to watch in the way that children interact with one another and how they perceive the world that surrounds. While doing our research of child development we began to observe a group of kids ranging the ages 1 – 12. During these observations we noticed traits such as attachment, comfort, and love. Through the following examples we will proceed to observe development in our environment and explain its relativity to the text

Early childhood on social and emotional development is something very important in a child’s early stages in life. This is where children often learn about their reactions and responses on how they act as well on how others react towards them. In this stage, children learn a lot from the way their parents, friends, teachers, etc, express themselves. In the essay I will be talking about how we can help our children interact with others being social, expressing their feelings, and understanding the way other peers feel. Sharing feelings will definitely be very big in their life so they show a good solid understanding of how to interact with other people even outside the home. Being a parent to the child will help them the most in their life

In the early stages of a child’s character development, the family is the first social group that the child has. The relationship that is fostered between the family and the child is important, because it is the role of the family that influences the child’s behavior. Although the child may be influenced by the father and siblings, these relationships are looked to second. The child realizes early that the family belongs to him. This leads to jealousy towards other siblings because he may strive to be significant, and establish a position of superiority. Once the child comes to trust the family, it no longer feels threatened. By fostering a good relationship with the family, the child develops trust which leads to the child developing

5. Shifts from instinct to early relationships Emphasize environmental influences Weight is given to how the infant develops a ‘self’ through relationships within family and how this self relates toward others