AIZAWL THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Durtlang Leitan, Aizawl

Topic : Object Relations Theories – Internalized Objects and Relations

Course Title : Marriage and Family Counselling
Course Facilitator : Rev. Dr. K.M. Vanlalpeka
Presenter : Rex Lalruatdika Fanai, M.Th-1

Introduction
Object Relations Theory is one of the most popular conceptual models in use among dynamic
psychotherapists today.1 It emphasizes unconscious relationships that have been internalized in
childhood and which continue to influence adult relationships.2 In other words, it is all about
understanding how we internalize our early childhood attachments and how those beliefs are
fundamental in shaping one’s psyche and influence their emotional and psychological
development.3 This paper aims to explore the meaning, historical development, core concepts
and clinical applications of Object Relations Theory.

1. Object Relations Theory

Object relations theory is a significant branch of psychoanalytic thought that emphasizes the
role of the object in psychological processes, or more generally, that of another person or
elements of others, most notably the parents or a primary caregiver. More specifically, object
relations refer to a theory of intra-psychic activity based upon the internalization of functional
aspects of the experience of others and how they relate to one another in the mind. 4 The main
focus of object relations theory is to understand a person's current relationships in terms of how
their childhood attachments to objects affected their development. 5 Objects are people or
experiences with people that can be deemed ''good'' or ''bad'' by an infant and or young child. It is
basically the target of relational needs in human development.6

This theory emphasis on the internalization of interpersonal relations and the contribution to
normal and pathological personality development. People react to and interact with not only an

1
Wesley Carr and Donald Capps, eds., The New Dictionary of Pastoral Studies (Great Britain:SPCK,2002),
239.
2
G.O. Gabbard and F. Rachal, “Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice,” Science Direct
(2012), accessed on June 14,2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/object-
relations-theory
3 nd
Paul Terry, Counselling and Psychotherapy with Old People: A Psychodynamic Approach, 2 ed. (New
York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008), 4.
4
Benjamin Beit Hallahmi, “Object Relations Theory,” in Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion, January
1, 2014, accessed on June 15, 2024,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304113619_Object_Relations_Theory
5
Siang-Yang Tan, Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Persperctive (Grand Rapids: Bakers
Academy, 2011), 45
6
D. John Antony, Psychotherapies in Counselling (Tamil Nadu: Anugraha Publications, 2003), 94.
actual other but also an internal other, a psychic representation of a person that in itself has the
power to influence both the individual’s affective state and his or her covert behavioral
reactions.7

2. Core Concepts of Object Relations Theory

Object Relations Theory revolves around several core concepts that form the foundation of
its theoretical framework. These include internal objects, splitting, projective identification, and
the holding environment.

2.1. Internal Objects

Internal objects are mental representations of significant others, typically formed during early
childhood. These representations are not mere reflections of actual people but are infused with
the child's emotional experiences and fantasies. Internal objects can be positive (idealized) or
negative (persecutory) and play a crucial role in shaping an individual's inner world and
relational patterns.8

2.2. Splitting
Splitting is a defense mechanism that involves dividing external objects and the self into all-
good or all-bad categories. This process helps the child manage conflicting emotions and
maintain a sense of safety. However, if splitting persists into adulthood, it can lead to difficulties
in integrating positive and negative aspects of relationships, resulting in polarized and unstable
interpersonal dynamics.9

2.3. Projective Identification

Projective identification is a complex defense mechanism where individuals project
unwanted parts of themselves onto others and then identify with those projected parts. This
process can create a cycle of projection and identification that influences interpersonal
relationships and can lead to dysfunctional patterns of interaction.10

2.4. Holding Environment

The holding environment, a concept introduced by Winnicott, refers to the supportive and
nurturing environment provided by a caregiver that allows the child to develop a sense of
security and self. A good enough holding environment facilitates healthy psychological
development, whereas a deficient holding environment can lead to developmental disruptions
and psychopathology.11

7
S. Richard Sauber, et al., The Dictionary of Family Psychology and Family Therapy, (New Delhi: SAGE
Publications, 1993), 276.
8
Lisa Fritscher, “What is Object Relations Theory?,” Very Well Mind, October 23, 2023, accessed on June
14, 2024, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-object-relations-theory-2671995
9
Sauber, et al., The Dictionary of Family Psychology and Family Therapy, 376.
10
Carr and Capps, The New Dictionary of Pastoral Studies, 284.
11
Carr and Capps, The New Dictionary of Pastoral Studies, 132.
 3. Historical Development of Object Relations Theory
The theory emerged as a variation of Freudian psychoanalytic theory. Object relations theory
developed during the late 1920s and 1930s and shaped psychoanalytic theory during the 1970s.12
Object relations theories are heterogeneous approaches, mainly based on the theories of Anna
Freud, Ronald Fairbairn, Donald Winnicott and Michael Balint.13 But the most substantial
contribution came from Melanie Klein, a prominent psychoanalyst.

3.1. Melanie Klein

Melanie Klein took her studies on Freud’s idea of internal objects and made the leap to
suggest that human behavior wasn't depending upon the unconscious inner workings.14 She felt
that patterns within various relationships with others were the key to understanding a person's
behavior. In turn, she created the object relations theory.15 She introduced the concept of internal
objects, which are mental representations of significant others, primarily formed during infancy.
Klein’s theory emphasized the role of fantasy and the internal world of the child, proposing that
early experiences with primary caregivers shape an individual’s psyche and their subsequent
relationships.16

3.2.W.R.D. Fairbairn

W.R.D. Fairbairn further advanced Object Relations Theory by shifting the focus from
drive theory to the relational aspects of the psyche. He posited that the primary motivation of
human behavior is the need for relationships rather than the satisfaction of instinctual drives.17
Fairbairn introduced the notion of the "splitting" of the ego, where parts of the self are repressed
to maintain idealized images of others, leading to the development of internalized object
relations.18

3.3. W.D. Winnicott

D.W. Winnicott contributed significantly to Object relations theory with his concepts of
the "good enough mother" and the "transitional object." He emphasized the importance of a
nurturing and responsive caregiving environment in facilitating healthy psychological
12
Fritscher, “What is Object Relations Theory?,” sec 5.
13
“Object Relations Theory,” Sigmund Freud Museum, accessed on June 16, 2024, https://www.freud-
museum.at/en/analysis-interminable/articles/object-relations-theories
14
Carr and Capps, The New Dictionary of Pastoral Studies, 239.
15
Jennifer Carnevale, “Melanie Klein’s Object Relation Theory: Overview and Therapy,” Study.com,
December 21, 2023, accessed on June 15, 2024, https://study.com/learn/lesson/object-relations-theory-stages-
examples-therapy.html
16
Lucy Etherington, “Melanie Klein and Object Relations Theory,” Simply Psychology, January 25, 2024,
accessed June 17, 2024, https://www.simplypsychology.org/melanie-klein.html
17
David P. Celani, Fairbairn’s Object Relations theory in the Clinical setting (Columbia: Columbia University
Press, 2010)
18
Stephen A. Mitchell and Margaret J. Black, Freud and Beyond (New York: basic Books, 1995), 114.
development. Winnicott's work highlighted the significance of the mother-infant relationship and
the development of a true self.19

4. Clinical Applications

Object Relations Theory has profound implications for clinical practice, particularly in the
fields of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. It provides a framework for understanding and
addressing the deep-seated relational issues and internal conflicts that underlie many
psychological disorders.

4.1. Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder

Object Relations Theory is particularly useful in treating Borderline Personailty Disorder.

Patients with Borderline Personailty Disorder often exhibit splitting, viewing others as entirely
good or bad. Therapy aims to integrate these split perceptions, fostering a more nuanced view of
relationships. This therapy aims at exploring and interpreting the patient's projections onto the
therapist, helping them understand and modify their relational patterns. It also tries to provide a
safe therapeutic space where the patient can express intense emotions without fear of
abandonment or retaliation. Psychotherapy is also the resolution of self-destructive patterns of
relating so that one can be help to self-actualize.20

4.2. Treating Depression

Depression can be conceptualized through the lens of Object Relations Theory as a

response to internalized loss and unresolved grief. Depressed individuals may harbor punitive
internal objects, leading to self-criticism and low self-esteem. This therapy aims to facilitate the
patient's processing of internalized losses and fostering the development of more benign internal
objects. It also tries to help patients differentiate between their own self-worth and the perceived
judgments of internalized objects.21

4.3. Work with Trauma survivors

Object Relations Theory provides a framework for understanding the long-lasting impact
of early trauma. Survivors may internalize abusive or neglectful caregivers as persecutory
objects, leading to chronic anxiety and mistrust. This therapeutic involvements focus on helping

19
Mitchell and Black, Freud and Beyond, 124-133.
20
Antony, Psychotherapies in Counselling, 94.
21
Gabbard and Rachal, “Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice,”.
patients form new, healthier internal representations through positive therapeutic relationships.22
It also helps patients in acknowledging and integrating dissociated aspects of their self-concept.23

4.4. Enhancing Parenting and Attachment

Object Relations Theory highlights the importance of early attachment relationships in

psychological development. This Object relation therapy aimed at improving parenting practices
so that it can have a significant impact on children's future mental health. It also involves
techniques like educating parents about the importance of attunement, responsiveness, and
consistency in developing secure attachments. It could also imply directly addressing and
modifying problematic interaction patterns between parents and children.24

Conclusion

Object Relations Theory offers a wide range of understanding the human psyche by emphasizing
the importance of early relationships in shaping an individual’s personality and behavior.
Through exploring and resolving unconscious conflicts related to internalized objects of
relationships, one can improve their emotional regulation and overall well-being. Its clinical
applications are effective in addressing a wide range of psychological issues and help individuals
gain insights into their internal world.

To sum up, the study of Object Relations Theory highlights the importance of our early relational
experiences and their lasting impact on our inner world and interpersonal relationships. It also
remains a vital and evolving field within psychoanalysis, offering hope and healing to those
struggling with the complexities of the human psyche, with working towards improving mental
health and well-being.

22
Mary C Zanarini, “Psychotherapy of Borderline Personality Disorder,” National Library of Medicine,
December 31, 2013, accessed June 18, 2024, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3218759/#sec-
a.d.ctitle
23
Jon Carlson and Shannon B. Bermer, eds., The Sage Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family and Couples
Counselling (USA: SAGE Publications, 2017), 1173.
24
Fritscher, “What is Object Relations Theory?,” sec 6.
Bibliography

Antony, D. John. Psychotherapies in Counselling. Tamil Nadu: Anugraha Publications, 2003.

Carlson, Jon, and Shannon B. Bermer. The Sage Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family and Couples
Counselling. 2nd ed. USA: SAGE Publications, 2017.
Carr, Wesley and Donald Capps, eds., The New Dictionary of Pastoral Studies. Great Britain:
SPCK,2002.
Celani, David P. Fairbairn’s Object Relations theory in the Clinical setting. Columbia:
Columbia University Press, 2010.
Mitchell Stephen A., and Margaret J. Black. Freud and Beyond. New York: basic Books, 1995.
Sauber, S. Richard, Luciano L’Abate, Gerald R.Weeks, and William L. Buchanan. The
Dictionary of Family Psychology and Family Therapy. New Delhi: SAGE Publications,
1993.
Tan, Siang-Yang. Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Persperctive. Grand Rapids:
Bakers Academy, 2011.
Terry, Paul. Counselling and Psychotherapy with Old People: A Psychodynamic Approach. 2nd
ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

Webliography
Carnevale, Jennifer. “Melanie Klein’s Object Relation Theory: Overview and Therapy.”
Study.com. December 21, 2023. Accessed June 15, 2024.
https://study.com/learn/lesson/object-relations-theory-stages-examples-therapy.html
Etherington, Lucy. “Melanie Klein and Object Relations Theory.” Simply Psychology. January
25, 2024. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.simplypsychology.org/melanie-
klein.html
Fritscher, Lisa. “What is Object Relations Theory?.” Very Well Mind. October 23, 2023.
Accessed June 14, 2024. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-object-relations-theory-
2671995
Gabbard, G.O. and F. Rachal. “Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice.” Science
Direct (2012). Accessed June 14,2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-
and-dentistry/object-relations-theory
Hallahmi, Benjamin Beit. “Object Relations Theory.” in Encyclopedia of Psychology and
Religion. January 1, 2014. Accessed June 15, 2024.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304113619_Object_Relations_Theory
Sigmund Freud Museum, “Object Relations Theory.” Accessed June 16, 2024,
https://www.freud-museum.at/en/analysis-interminable/articles/object-relations-theories
Zanarini, Mary C. “Psychotherapy of Borderline Personality Disorder.” National Library of
Medicine. December 31, 2013. Accessed June 18, 2024.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3218759/#sec-a.d.ctitle