Self Psychology:Self Psychology: Overview Overview and Applicationsand Applications

June 12th, 2007June 12th, 2007

THE STORY OF NARCISSUSTHE STORY OF NARCISSUS

Once upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus. He was the son Once upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus. He was the son of a god and he was very, very handsome. Many women fell in love of a god and he was very, very handsome. Many women fell in love with him, but he turned them away. One of the women who loved with him, but he turned them away. One of the women who loved Narcissus was a nymph called Echo. Echo could not speak properly - 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 she could only repeat what was said to her, so she couldn't tell Narcissus that she loved him. One day, when Narcissus was walking Narcissus that she loved him. One day, when Narcissus was walking in the woods with some friends, he became separated from them. He in the woods with some friends, he became separated from them. He called out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied "Here, Here". Echo stepped called out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied "Here, Here". Echo stepped forward with open arms, wanting to cuddle him. But Narcissus forward with open arms, wanting to cuddle him. But Narcissus refused to accept Echo's love. Echo was so upset that she left and hid refused to accept Echo's love. Echo was so upset that she left and hid in a cave, until nothing was left of her, except her voice.in a cave, until nothing was left of her, except her voice.

THE STORY OF NARCISSUS, THE STORY OF NARCISSUS, continuedcontinued

The Maiden, a goddess, found out The Maiden, a goddess, found out about this, and she was very angry.about this, and she was very angry.She made Narcissus fall in love with himself. She made Narcissus fall in love with himself. When Narcissus looked at his reflection in aWhen Narcissus looked at his reflection in a pond one day, he fell in love. He stayed onpond one day, he fell in love. He stayed on that spot forever, until he died one day. that spot forever, until he died one day. Where he died a flower grew, and thatWhere he died a flower grew, and that flower is called a Narcissus.flower is called a Narcissus.

KohutKohut

Born in Vienna in 1913 Born in Vienna in 1913 Moved to US due to Nazi invasionMoved to US due to Nazi invasionShifted from neurology to psychiatry to Shifted from neurology to psychiatry to

psychoanalysispsychoanalysisKohut begain writing about empathy and Kohut begain writing about empathy and

self psychology in 1959self psychology in 1959

Comparison with FreudComparison with Freud

SimilaritiesSimilarities Emphasis on relationshipEmphasis on relationship

Transference reaction criticalTransference reaction critical Presenting problem - likely subset of larger personality Presenting problem - likely subset of larger personality

deficit deficit Importance of early developmental factorsImportance of early developmental factorsDifferencesDifferences Kohut emphasized empathyKohut emphasized empathy Intrapsychic versus interpersonal historyIntrapsychic versus interpersonal history Attitude toward psychosexual factors and stagesAttitude toward psychosexual factors and stages

Kohut’s Infant ResearchKohut’s Infant Research

Early developmental research on mother child Early developmental research on mother child interactionsinteractions

Studied children of psychologistsStudied children of psychologists Determined insecure identity, lack of self-identity Determined insecure identity, lack of self-identity

in many cases and often a in many cases and often a vague sense of not vague sense of not being real (inability to experience emotion) being real (inability to experience emotion)

Also an intense need to attach themselves to Also an intense need to attach themselves to powerful figures in order to feel that their lives powerful figures in order to feel that their lives had meaninghad meaning

Critical AssumptionsCritical Assumptions

Clinical phenomenon understood to represent the Clinical phenomenon understood to represent the effects of experiences which effects of experiences which foster or interferefoster or interfere with with the achievement and maintenance of self-cohesionthe achievement and maintenance of self-cohesion

Self is organizing principle of personality/behaviorSelf is organizing principle of personality/behavior

Self disorders are common and have a considerable Self disorders are common and have a considerable range of severityrange of severity

Critical Needs to Self-Critical Needs to Self-Development and Self-DisordersDevelopment and Self-Disorders

3 strong needs that must be fulfilled if 3 strong needs that must be fulfilled if the self is to develop fullythe self is to develop fully

• MirroringMirroring• Be like others (twinship)Be like others (twinship)• To idealizeTo idealize

Themes common in transferenceThemes common in transference

In Following ClipIn Following Clip

Identify possible Self Psych themes or Identify possible Self Psych themes or deficient needs that may be relevant for deficient needs that may be relevant for our fan, Joe Buckour fan, Joe Buck

Pay attention to song as it emerges and Pay attention to song as it emerges and how it relates to Narcissism (and story of how it relates to Narcissism (and story of narcissus)narcissus)

How might you conceptualize Joe Buck’s How might you conceptualize Joe Buck’s self development?self development?

Optimal FrustrationOptimal Frustration

There is an optimal level of frustration with There is an optimal level of frustration with having your needs provided and providing having your needs provided and providing them for yourself (a gap)them for yourself (a gap)

This gap is sufficiently small that it This gap is sufficiently small that it encourages one to take over such for oneself encourages one to take over such for oneself the provision of self needs rather than the provision of self needs rather than discouraging one. discouraging one. Example - holding out hand, standing away Example - holding out hand, standing away

from child as learning to walkfrom child as learning to walk

Critical DefinitionsCritical Definitions

Mirroring, Twinship, IdealizationMirroring, Twinship, IdealizationOptimal FrustrationOptimal FrustrationTransmuting InternalizationTransmuting InternalizationTransferenceTransferenceEmpathyEmpathy

Transmuting InternalizationsTransmuting Internalizations

Children seize the opportunity of the “failed Children seize the opportunity of the “failed mirror” to take the mirroring function into themes mirror” to take the mirroring function into themes and as a result, change something basic in their and as a result, change something basic in their self.self.

Gradually, over time, these TIs add up to one Gradually, over time, these TIs add up to one important aspect of a strong and cohesive self.important aspect of a strong and cohesive self.

EmpathyEmpathy

The capacity to think and feel oneself into The capacity to think and feel oneself into the inner life of another person. the inner life of another person.

Lifelong ability to experience what another Lifelong ability to experience what another person experiencesperson experiences

Therapist roleTherapist role

Therapists attitude a critical factor toward the Therapists attitude a critical factor toward the healing process healing process

Development and successful communication of Development and successful communication of empathy is criticalempathy is critical

2 Critical questions:2 Critical questions:1.1. What was it that my client was deprived of as a What was it that my client was deprived of as a

client and client and 2.2. What could the therapist do about it?What could the therapist do about it?

To considerTo consider: Therapist role to provide or : Therapist role to provide or reflect the mirror? reflect the mirror?

Healthy Self DevelopmentHealthy Self Development Child begins to learn about empathy for others. In learning to Child begins to learn about empathy for others. In learning to

care for others, the self interests come to be balanced against care for others, the self interests come to be balanced against the concern for the welfare of others. the concern for the welfare of others.

Healthy Narcissism: Appearance of a strong, vital, cohesive self Healthy Narcissism: Appearance of a strong, vital, cohesive self striving with ambition and ideals toward the full realization of a striving with ambition and ideals toward the full realization of a person's skills and talents.person's skills and talents.

As child matures realize more people out there As child matures realize more people out there Available psychic energy gets direct at those people Available psychic energy gets direct at those people and less on self : More completely this shift is made and less on self : More completely this shift is made the healthier the personthe healthier the person

In fully mature adult a small amount of energy still In fully mature adult a small amount of energy still concerned with self-issuesconcerned with self-issues

Some limitations of Self Some limitations of Self PsychologyPsychology

Few techniquesFew techniquesMay minimize importance of presenting concerns May minimize importance of presenting concerns

or symptoms of distressor symptoms of distressLittle attention to cultural factors - or how healthy Little attention to cultural factors - or how healthy

self-development (and associated needs) may self-development (and associated needs) may differ among different cultures and communitiesdiffer among different cultures and communities

Non directive approach may not be appealing to Non directive approach may not be appealing to some - or appropriate for others (more some - or appropriate for others (more disturbed?)disturbed?)

ResourcesResources

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

www.therapistfinder.net/glossary/Self-Psychology.html

Therapist's Emotional Survival: Dealing with the Pain of Exploring TraumaBy Stuart Perlman

Self Psychology and Diagnostic Assessment: Identifying Selfobject Functions through Psychological TestingBy Marshall L. Silverstein

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