7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

1/18

Self Psychology:Overviewand App licat ions

June 12th, 2007

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

2/18

THE STORY OF NARCISSUS

Once upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus. He was the son ofa god and he was very, very handsome. Many women fell in love withhim, but he turned them away. One of the women who loved

Narcissus was a nymph called Echo. Echo could not speak properly -she could only repeat what was said to her, so she couldn't tell

Narcissus that she loved him. One day, when Narcissus was walkingin the woods with some friends, he became separated from them. Hecalled out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied "Here, Here". Echo stepped

forward with open arms, wanting to cuddle him. But Narcissusrefused to accept Echo's love. Echo was so upset that she left and hidin a cave, until nothing was left of her, except her voice.

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

3/18

THE STORY OF NARCISSUS,

continued

The Maiden, a goddess, found out

about this, and she was very angry.

She made Narcissus fall in love with himself.

When Narcissus looked at his reflection in a

pond one day, he fell in love. He stayed on

that spot forever, until he died one day.

Where he died a flower grew, and that

flower is called a Narcissus.

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

4/18

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

5/18

Kohut

Born in Vienna in 1913

Moved to US due to Nazi invasion

Shifted from neurology to psychiatry to

psychoanalysis

Kohut begain writing about empathy andself psychology in 1959

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

6/18

Comparison with Freud

Similarities

Emphasis on relationship

Transference reaction critical

Presenting problem - likely subset of largerpersonality deficit

Importance of early developmental factors

Differences

Kohut emphasized empathy

Intrapsychic versus interpersonal history

Attitude toward psychosexual factors and stages

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

7/18

Kohuts Infant Research

Early developmental research on mother child

interactions

Studied children of psychologists

Determined insecure identity, lack of self-identityin many cases and often a vague sense of not

being real (inability to experience emotion)

Also an intense need to attach themselves topowerful figures in order to feel that their lives

had meaning

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

8/18

Critical Assumptions

Clinical phenomenon understood to represent the

effects of experiences which foster or interfere with

the achievement and maintenance of self-cohesion

Self is organizing principle of personality/behavior

Self disorders are common and have a considerable

range of severity

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

9/18

Critical Needs to Self-

Development and Self-Disorders

3 strong needs that must be fulfilled if

the self is to develop fully

Mirroring

Be like others (twinship)

To idealizeThemes common in transference

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

10/18

In Following Clip

Identify possible Self Psych themes or

deficient needs that may be relevant for

our fan, Joe Buck

Pay attention to song as it emerges and

how it relates to Narcissism (and story of

narcissus)

How might you conceptualize Joe Bucks

self development?

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

11/18

Optimal Frustration

There is an optimal level of frustration with

having your needs provided and providing

them for yourself (a gap)

This gap is sufficiently small that it encourages

one to take over such for oneself the provision

of self needs rather than discouraging one.

Example - holding out hand, standing away

from child as learning to walk

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

12/18

Critical Definitions

Mirroring, Twinship, Idealization

Optimal Frustration

Transmuting Internalization Transference

Empathy

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

13/18

Transmuting Internalizations

Children seize the opportunity of the failed

mirror to take the mirroring function into themesand as a result, change something basic in theirself.

Gradually, over time, these TIs add up to one

important aspect of a strong and cohesive self.

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

14/18

Empathy

The capacity to think and feel oneself into

the inner life of another person.

Lifelong ability to experience what another

person experiences

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

15/18

Therapist role

Therapists attitude a critical factor toward thehealing process

Development and successful communication of

empathy is critical2 Critical questions:

1. What was it that my client was deprived of as aclient and

2. What could the therapist do about it?To consider: Therapist role to provide or

reflect the mirror?

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

16/18

Healthy Self Development

Child begins to learn about empathy for others. In learningto care for others, the self interests come to be balancedagainst the concern for the welfare of others.

Healthy Narcissism: Appearance of a strong, vital, cohesive self

striving with ambition and ideals toward the full realization of aperson's skills and talents.

As child matures realize more people out thereAvailable psychic energy gets direct at those

people and less on self : More completely thisshift is made the healthier the person

In fully mature adult a small amount of energy stillconcerned with self-issues

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

17/18

Some limitations of Self

PsychologyFew techniques

May minimize importance of presenting concernsor symptoms of distress

Little attention to cultural factors - or how healthyself-development (and associated needs) maydiffer among different cultures and communities

Non directive approach may not be appealing to

some - or appropriate for others (moredisturbed?)

7/30/2019 Roch 367 Self Psych

18/18

Resources

Institute for advancement of self-psychology:http://www.selfpsychology.org/iasp.htm

www.therapistfinder.net/glossary/Self-Psychology.htmlTherapist's Emotional Survival: Dealing with the Pain of Exploring Trauma

By Stuart PerlmanSelf Psychology and Diagnostic Assessment: Identifying Selfobject

Functions through Psychological TestingBy Marshall L. Silverstein

Heinz Kohut: The Making of a PsychoanalystBy Charles B. Strozier

http://www.selfpsychology.org/iasp.htmhttp://www.therapistfinder.net/glossary/Self-Psychology.htmlhttp://www.therapistfinder.net/glossary/Self-Psychology.htmlhttp://www.therapistfinder.net/glossary/Self-Psychology.htmlhttp://www.therapistfinder.net/glossary/Self-Psychology.htmlhttp://www.selfpsychology.org/iasp.htm