Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Are "primitive" object relations really preoedipal?

D Westen1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|July 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A multidimensional meta-analysis of treatments for depression, panic, and generalized anxiety disorder: an empirical examination of the status of empirically supported therapies.

Journal of consulting and clinical psychology·2002
Same author

Personality profiles in eating disorders: rethinking the distinction between axis I and axis II.

The American journal of psychiatry·2001
Same author

Diagnosing personality disorders.

The American journal of psychiatry·2001
Same author

A prototype matching approach to diagnosing personality disorders: toward DSM-V.

Journal of personality disorders·2000
Same author

Identity disturbance in borderline personality disorder: an empirical investigation.

The American journal of psychiatry·2000
Same author

The scientific status of unconscious processes: is Freud really dead?

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association·2000

Developmental models of object relations link severe character pathology to early childhood issues. However, research indicates that these object relations can also stem from later developmental stages, not just primitive fixations.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Psychoanalytic Theory
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Object relations theory is a psychoanalytic approach focused on early childhood experiences.
  • Severe character pathology is often explained through preoedipal developmental fixations and regressions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the developmental timeline of object relations in severe character pathology.
  • To determine if all aspects of object relations in these disorders are rooted in preoedipal stages.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing developmental research on object relations.
  • Analysis of case studies and theoretical frameworks concerning character pathology.

Main Results:

  • While some object relations in severe character disorders align with preoedipal development, others do not.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Evidence suggests that certain object relations manifest at preadolescent, adult, or abnormal levels, challenging purely primitive explanations.

    • Conclusions:

    • Developmental models of object relations require a broader perspective beyond solely preoedipal fixations.
    • Severe character pathology may involve object relations issues across multiple developmental stages, not exclusively primitive ones.