Object Relations Theory Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Object Relations Theory?

Object Relations Theory (ORT) is a psychoanalytical theory that has been influential in the development of interpersonal psychology, which emphasizes the importance of relationships between individuals and their environment. It was developed by psychoanalyst Melanie Klein in the 1940s and continues to be widely studied today. ORT focuses on how people form relationships with other people as well as with objects, such as toys and tools. The theory also examines how these relationships shape behavior and affect mental health.According to ORT, individuals form psychological representations of themselves and others based on early experiences with caregivers or parents. These representations are called internal objects because they exist within an individual’s mind rather than existing in external reality. Internal objects can influence an individual’s emotional responses to situations throughout their life, even when those situations do not involve the original object or person from whom the internal representation was formed. For example, if a child experienced rejection from a parental figure during childhood, they may develop an internal representation of being rejected that affects how they interact with people later in lifeeven if those later interactions involve different people who don’t reject them.ORT states that there are two main types of relationships: symbiotic (in which both parties are dependent on one another) and complementary (in which each party has something distinct to offer). Symbiotic relationships can be either healthy or unhealthy depending on whether both parties feel secure in the relationship; complementary relationships typically involve two parties who have something unique to offer one another without relying too heavily upon each other’s presence or support. The theory also discusses how people’s expectations about what will happen during a relationship shape their behavior in it; these expectations are known as unconscious transference patterns since they often come from early childhood experiences with parental figures or other significant figures from earlier life stages. This can manifest itself through tensions between partners when one partner is expecting something specific based on past experiences even though it may not be realistic within the context of present circumstances.