Week 7: Psychoanalysis 2~Object Relations Theory, Transference & Character Formation Flashcards
How did ORT differ from Freud’s drive theory for babies?
ORT saw the primary caregiver as the object. The baby was not self-centered but was object centered to that primary caregiver.
What would cause fear and anger for a baby in the ORT model?
Fear and anger would be caused by the need for the primary caregiver not being gratified.
In Freud’s 2nd topography, what is considered the ‘site’ of defensive mechanisms?
The ego is the site of the defense process
Why did the concept of drive cease to be important for clinicians?
The concept of drive ceased to be important for clinicians because there was a focus on the ego and the development of defensive processes
How was the libido seen in the ORT perspective, since drive was no longer seen as important?
Libido was seen as a general desire rather than a drive
Harlow’s attachment study with monkeys is seen to negate Freud’s drive theory. How?
Since the monkey chooses the cloth-mother, this is seen as an attachment-related desire rather than only prioritising need for food (drive for food).
How did Melanie Klein’s work differ from other ORT?
Klein didn’t reject the drive theory
How does Fairburn see libido?
Fairburn sees libido as energy which is not sexualised. It ‘structure’s’ the ego.
Libido is relational rather than somatic.
How does Freud’s and Fairburn’s (ORTs) concepts of intimacy and genital maturity differ?
Freud believed that mature genital functioning allowed intimacy, whereas OR theorists believe that need for intimacy is innate, and that the capacity for intimacy allows mature genital functioning.
What happens to the ego of a child when their needs for intimacy are not met by the primary caregiver?
The child experiences ego withdrawal if their needs are not met by the primary caregiver
What is Fairburn’s theory of separation anxiety?
Is this a conscious or unconscious process?
In order to minimise separation anxiety, the child internalises part of the mothers personality.
This is an unconscious process.
What is Fairburn’s theory of separation anxiety?
Is this a conscious or unconscious process?
In order to minimise separation anxiety, the child internalises part of the mothers personality.
This is an unconscious process called introjecting.
What is introjecting, or an internal object?
Taking in of aspects of the mother’s personality in order to deal with separation anxiety
What is the anti-libidinal ego?
The anti-libidinal ego is the rejecting part of the ego which is internalised from the mother’s personality via introjecting
What is the libidinal aspect of the ego, according to Fairburn?
The libidinal ego is caused by the intense yearning which results from being rejected by the mother.
