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Lecture 6: Psychosocial theories (Object Relations Theory (Margaret Mahler…
Lecture 6: Psychosocial theories
Object Relations Theory
emphasise that a person's pattern of relating to others is established in early childhood
Patterns tend to recur throughout life
Theories focusing on relations with others
Margaret Mahler
separation-individuation process
this need is in conflict with need to be taken care of
process goes too fast->separation anxiety
6mth-> child becomes aware of its separate existence
age 3->stable representation of mother develops, which is derived from experiences
mother is with child symbolically, object relation is internalised
child uses this image as lens to view mother in future and generalise it to other people
newborns begin life in a state of psychological fusion with mothers (this period called
symbiosis
)
Attachment Theory (John Bowlby)
implicit working models
children builds models of the self, others and the nature of r/s
to guide their behaviours with others based on their expectations of how attachment figures respond to their behaviour
Strange Situation
series of events
types of attachment
Insecure
Ambivalent
very upset when mother left,
sought contact with mum but angrily resisted all efforts to be soothed
Avoidant
calm when mum left, avoided, ignored and rejected upon her return
secure
normal distress when mother left, happy enthusiasm when she returned
involving mother and stranger, infant left alone with stranger and then mother returns
Attachment
basic element of human nature involving an emotional connection to others
infant attachment
carries survival benefits
develops as caretaker responds to infant's needs
provides a secure base from which the infant can explore the world & retreat from threat
Adult attachment patterns
Avoidant
seek less support during stress, provide less support to stress partners
less responsive caregiving
socialise less at work, greater desire to keep busy
Greater use of distancing coping
Ambivalent
Higher levels of compulsive caregiving
Higher levels of self-criticism & wishful thinking coping
Unhappiness with job recognition and security
Relationships
Avoidant
less accepting of lovers' imperfections
Ambivalent
Obsessive, preoccupied, extremes of emotions, sexual attraction, and jealousy, love at first sight
Secure
more happy, friendly, trusting, longer lasting
Bartholomew & Horowitz conceptualisation of adult attachment
results in secure, dismissing, preoccupied, fearful
2 dimensions
+ve/-ve model of the self (lovable or not)
+ve/-ve model of others (others are trustworthy or not)
Stability & Specificity for attachment
Stability
Prototype for close r/s arises in infancy & persists in the face of new experiences
those who show patterns of change over time may be insecure but have periods of security
Attachment seems moderately stable across time
Specificity
Ppl demonstrate diff patterns for r/s in diff contexts (close friends, large groups)
Erikson's Psychosocial Development
stages
each stage characterised by a central conflict around which growth potential and vulnerability are high
Stages involve sense of self/ego identity
resolution of each stage leads to "ego strengths/virtues" (+ve orientations towards future events)
conflicts
Preschool 3-5yr old (Initiative vs Guilt)
Basis for sense of power in world
ego strength of
purpose
->courage to pursue valued goals without fear of punishment
Old Age (Ego integrity vs Despair)
Basis for sense of order & meaning in life
ego strength->wisdom
ppl look back & review their lives; sense of satisfaction/life was wasted
12-20yr old (Identity vs Role confusion)
basis for integrated sense of private & social self
ego strength of
fidelity
->ability to live up to who you are despite contradictions among values you hold
School age 5-11 yr old (Industry vs Inferiority)
basis for sense of value, citzenship
ego strength of
competence
->sense that one can do things that are valued by others
Early childhood 2-3yr old(Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt)
Basis for feelings of control & competency
ego strength
will
->determination to exercise free choice
Young adulthood 20s (Intimacy vs Isolation)
basis for close, warm r/s
ego strength->
love
Infancy 1yr old(Trust vs Mistrust)
Basis for proving the world is predictable
Develop ego strength:Hope->optimism abt life, belief that wishes are attainable
Adulthood till 60s (Generativity vs Stagnation)
Basis for +vely influencing the future
ego strength->
care
generativity=desire to create things in the world that will outlive you
8 stages, life-span development from birth to old age