General principles of self psychology: a position statement

In the more than twenty-five years since Kohut formulated a psychology of the self, the basic theory has undergone many revisions and additions. In the course of broadening from a focus on narcissism and empathy into a general theory of normal and pathological development, self psychology has taken so many different directions that the question can be asked, Does self psychology remain essentially a single theory with different descriptors--a theory of a self-selfobject matrix, a theory of intersubjectivity, a theory of motivational systems, and so on? A concise statement of general principles is intended to contribute to a dialogue between advocates of the views presented here and those who hold different views of theory and practice, within and withoutself psychology.