Object relations theory focuses on the intense relationship between child and parent and how the internalized objects from childhood influence one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in adult life. The case of Ms. A demonstrates the integration of Margaret Mahler and Donald Winnicott's contributions to object relations theory regarding conceptualization and treatment. The case study vividly explains and illustrates the application of Winnicott's concepts of the good-enough mother; holding, mirroring, and the true and false self; as well as Mahler's rapprochement crisis and issues concerning separation and individuation. Ms. A was treated individually over the course of 1 year for treatment of her depression, anxiety, and dependent character traits.
American Psychological Association
. (1992). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Washington, DC: Author.
2.
Bacal, H. A.
, & Newman, K. M. (1990). Theories of object relations: Bridges to self psychology. New York: Columbia University Press.
3.
Glickauf-Hughes, C.
, & Wells, M. (1995). Object relations therapy. In C. Glickauf-Hughes & M. Wells (Eds.), Treatment of masochistic personality: An interactional-object relations approach to psychotherapy (pp. 83-108). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
4.
Grotstein, J. S.
(1996). Object relations theory. In E. Nersessian & R. G. Kopff (Eds.), Textbook of psychoanalysis. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
5.
Horner, A.
(1991). Psychoanalytic object relations therapy. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
6.
Jacobson, E.
(1971). The influence of infantile conflicts on recurring depressive states. In E. Jacobson (Ed.), Depression: Comparative studies of normal, neurotic, and psychotic conditions(pp. 204-227). New York: International Universities Press.
7.
Kernberg, O. F.
(1984). Object relations theory and clinical psychoanalyis. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
8.
Levine, S. S.
(1996a). Margaret Mahler: The quandary of psychological connection and independence. In S. S. Levine (Ed.), Useful servants: Psychodynamic approaches to clinical practice(pp. 119-142). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
9.
Levine, S. S.
(1996b). Winnicott: The infant's embeddedness in the environment. In S. S. Levine (Ed.), Useful servants: Psychodynamic approaches to clinical practice(pp. 95-118). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
10.
Luborsky, L.
, Mark, D., Hole, A. V., Popp, C., Goldsmith, B., & Cacciola, J. (1995). Supportive-expressive dynamic psychotherapy of depression: A time limited approach. In J. P. Barber & P. Crits-Christoph (Eds.), Dynamic therapies for psychiatric disorders (Axis I)(pp. 13-42). New York: Basic Books.
11.
Mahler, M.
, Pine, F., & Bergman, A. (1975). The psychological birth of the human infant: Symbiosis and individuation. New York: Basic Books.
12.
Mahler, M. S.
(1968). On human symbiosis and the vicissitudes of individuation: Infantile psychosis. New York: International University Press.
13.
Mahler, M. S.
(1972). On the first three subphases of the separation-individuation process. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 53, 333-338.
14.
Mahler, M. S.
(1994). Notes on the development of basic moods: The depressive affect. In M. S. Mahler (Ed.), Separation-individuation: The selected papers of Margaret S. Mahler, Volume II(pp. 77-98). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. (Original workpublished 1966)
15.
McWilliams, N.
(1994). Psychoanalytic diagnosis. New York: Guilford.
16.
Scharff, D. E.
(1996). Major trends in object relations theory and practice. In D. E. Scharff (Ed.), Object relations theoryand practice: An introduction(pp. 3-26). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
17.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1965a). The capacity to be alone. In D. W. Winnicott (Ed.), The maturational processes and the facilitating environment(pp. 29-36). New York: International Universities Press. (Original work published 1958)
18.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1965b). Ego distortion in terms of true and false self. In D. W. Winnicott (Ed.), The maturational processes and the facilitating environment(pp. 140-152). New York: International Universities Press. (Original workpublished 1960)
19.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1965c). The maturational process and the facilitating environment. New York: International Universities Press.
20.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1965d). The theory of the parent-infant relationship. In D. W. Winnicott (Ed.), The maturational processes and the facilitating environment(pp. 37-57). New York: InternationalUniversities Press. (Original workpublished 1960)
21.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1967). Mirror-role of mother and family in child development. In D. W. Winnicott (Ed.), Playing and reality(pp.111-118). New York: Basic Books.
22.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1989). Ideas and definitions. In C. Winnicott, R. Shepherd,& M. Davis (Eds.), Psychoanalytic explorations(pp. 43-44). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. (Original workpublished 1950s)
23.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1996a). Metapsychological and clinical aspects of regression within the psychoanalytical set-up. In D. E. Scharff (Ed.), Object relations theoryand practice: An introduction(pp. 211-215). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. (Original workpublished 1954)
24.
Winnicott, D. W.
(1996b). Primary maternal preoccupation. In D. E. Scharff (Ed.), Object relations theory and practice: An introduction(pp. 221-224). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. (Original workpublished 1956)
