Self Psychology and the Higher Mental Functioning hypothesis emphasize positive aspects of patients' efforts to stabilize defective (unstable) functioning and begin growth. The theories overlap and their application increases clinical awareness of transactions within the treatment setting. Clinical examples are presented from psycho-therapy groups that illustrate applications, advantages and problems of the two theoretical approaches.
Cooper, L.
and Gustafson, J.P. (1979) `Toward a General Theory of Group Therapy', Human Relations32: 967-981.
2.
Gustafson, J.P.
and Cooper, L. (1978) `Collaboration in Small Groups: Theory and Technique for the Study of Small-group Processes', Human Relations31: 155-171.
3.
Gustafson, J.P.
and Cooper, L. (1981) `Cooperative and Clashing Interests in Small Groups: Part II. Group Narratives', Human Relations34: 367-378.
4.
Kauff, P.
(1977) `The Termination Process: Its Relationship to the Separation-Individuation Phase of Development', International Journal of Group Psychotherapy.27: 14-22.
5.
Kohut, H.
(1971) The Analysis of the Self. New York: International Universities Press.
6.
Kohut, H.
(1977) The Restoration of the Self. New York: International Universities Press.
7.
Kohut, H.
(1984) How Does Analysis Cure?Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
8.
Ornstein, A.
(1974) `The Dread to Repeat and the New Beginning — A Contribution to the Psychoanalysis of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder', The Annual of Psychoanalysis2: 131-148.
9.
Rutan, J.S.
and Stone, W.N. (1993) Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy. New York: Guilford Press.
10.
Scheidlinger, S.
(1982) On Scapegoating in Group Psychotherapy', International Journal of Group Psychotherapy.32: 131-143.
11.
Stone, W.N.
(1992) `A Self Psychological Perspective on Envy in Group Psychotherapy', Group Analysis25: 413-428.
12.
Takahashi, T.
(1994) `Object Relations Group Psychotherapy with Chronic Schizophrenic Patients', paper presented at XIth International Symposium for the Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia, Washington, DC.
13.
Weiss, J.
(1993) How Psychotherapy Works: Process and Technique. New York: Guilford Press.
14.
Weiss, J.
, Sampson, H. and the Mount Zion Psychotherapy Research Group (1986) The Psychoanalytic Process: Theory, Clinical Observations and Empirical Research. New York: Guilford Press.
15.
Yalom, I.D.
(1985) The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.