Object Relations Theory

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A Psychoanalytic View Of Object Relations Theory Vanessa C. Ladnier Liberty University A Psychoanalytic View Of Object Relations Theory Part I Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that even as infants, humans begin to form schemas. Schemas are the way humans organize their thoughts into mental patterns that represent behaviors and actions (Feldman, 2009). A child with good mental health would be able to transition through Piaget’s stages of development each time developing new schemas (Feldman, 2009). According to Feldman (2009), as the child moves through each stage they become more mature in their ability to assimilate and accommodate through cognitive reasoning. However, if a child experiences adverse social encounters, they are more prone to poor mental health (Feldman, 2009). When poor mental health leads to social anxiety, severe depressed mood, and other debilitating issues, stated Feldman, can occur. Research has discovered that there is a strong correlation between environmental factors and the way a child reasons socially (Luthar, 2004). The relationship between the environment and children’s ability to reason socially argue that the accumulation of peers, home, and neighborhood stress factors can create a pathway for beliefs about the appropriateness of aggression, stated Luthar (2004). Luthar also established that subtle hormonal and physical changes along with the biased perceptions of others mutually reinforce one another and are strengthened in a way that supports aggressive behavior in late childhood and adolescence. However, most children in stressful environments are able to effectively cope and become competent adolescents and adults. (Luthar 2004). Goldenberg & Goldenberg (2008) stated, while many therapists continue to be interested in the “psychodynamics of family life” and use concepts that are
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