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 Concept Videos

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence01:17

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence

243
Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, "identity versus role confusion," is crucial during adolescence (ages 12 to 18). In this stage, adolescents face the developmental task of forging a distinct personal identity, a process influenced by social, psychological, and biological changes typical of this period. Adolescents naturally explore different roles, behaviors, and ideologies as they navigate complex questions of self-concept, asking, "Who am I?" and "What is my place in...
243
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood01:28

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood

162
Erik Erikson, a stage theorist, adapted Freud's theory to emphasize social factors in personality development throughout life, a concept known as psychosocial development. Unlike Freud, who focused on early childhood, Erikson believed that personality evolves across eight life stages, each marked by a specific challenge or "crisis." Successful resolution of each stage fosters competence, while failure may lead to feelings of inadequacy.
The first four of Erikson's eight...
162
Psychosexual Theory of Development01:14

Psychosexual Theory of Development

451
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's...
451
Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality01:27

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality

1.0K
The psychodynamic perspective in psychology asserts that most personality functions operate unconsciously, outside of awareness. This means that the motives and emotions driving behavior often remain hidden, automatically buried in the unconscious mind as a defense mechanism to shield us from psychological distress. According to this theory, the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are too disturbing to face directly.
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...
1.0K
Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder01:29

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

270
The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
270
Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid01:22

Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid

129
Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
129

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

From Childhood Emotional Abuse to Adolescent Dissociation: The Role of Borderline Personality Features.

Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)·2026
Same author

The intergenerational transmission of reflective functioning in adoptive families: A prospective study from pre-adoption to early adolescence.

Infant mental health journal·2026
Same author

When the body speaks for the mind: A parallel-serial mediation model of trauma, epistemic trust, reflective functioning, and somatic symptoms in emerging adults.

Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy·2026
Same author

Mapping the Adolescent Mind: Profiles of Reflective Functioning and Epistemic Trust in Adolescent Psychopathology.

Journal of adolescence·2026
Same author

Pathology of the self: a network analysis of personality functioning, narcissistic vulnerability, mentalizing, and epistemic trust across trauma profiles.

Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation·2026
Same author

Emotional awareness in adolescents with a borderline personality disorder: impact of defense mechanisms and adversity.

European journal of psychotraumatology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

6.8K

An Integrated Developmental Approach to Personality Disorders in Adolescence: Expanding Kernberg's Object Relations

Lina Normandin1, Alan Weiner1, Karin Ensink1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (Normandin, Ensink); Department of Psychology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City (Weiner); Personality Disorders Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City (Weiner).

American Journal of Psychotherapy
|January 25, 2023
PubMed
Summary

This article explores Otto F. Kernberg's object relations theory for adolescent personality disorders, highlighting identity development and treatment. It presents assessment methods and transference-focused psychotherapy for adolescents with personality pathology.

Keywords:
Adolescent personality developmentAssessment and InterviewingBorderline Personality DisorderChild/Adolescent PsychiatryPersonality Disorders

More Related Videos

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

10.1K
Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers
09:16

Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers

Published on: March 14, 2018

10.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

6.8K
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

10.1K
Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers
09:16

Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers

Published on: March 14, 2018

10.3K

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Psychoanalysis

Background:

  • Otto F. Kernberg's object relations theory emphasizes integrated identity versus identity diffusion in personality disorders.
  • Adolescence is a critical period for identity expansion, integrating impulses, and revising self/other representations.
  • Previous work focused on adult personality disorders, necessitating a deeper understanding for adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To honor Otto F. Kernberg's contributions to understanding adolescent personality pathology.
  • To elaborate on the development, assessment, and treatment of personality disorders in adolescence based on Kernberg's theory.
  • To present practical applications of Kernberg's theory for adolescent clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of Otto F. Kernberg's theoretical contributions to personality development and pathology.
  • Description of two assessment methods for adolescent personality disorders derived from Kernberg's object relations theory.
  • Demonstration of transference-focused psychotherapy adapted for adolescents with personality disorders.

Main Results:

  • Adolescence is crucial for identity formation, involving the integration of drives and realistic self/other representations.
  • Kernberg's theory provides a framework for understanding identity diffusion as a core issue in adolescent personality disorders.
  • Transference-focused psychotherapy shows promise for treating personality disorders in adolescents.

Conclusions:

  • Kernberg's object relations theory offers valuable insights into adolescent personality development and pathology.
  • Specific assessment tools and therapeutic approaches, like transference-focused psychotherapy, can effectively address personality disorders in adolescents.
  • Continued research and clinical application of Kernberg's framework are essential for advancing adolescent mental health care.