PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOLOGY III
OBJECT RELATIONS I: SEMINAL WORKS AND CONCEPTS IN THE BRITISH TRADITION
Jennifer Tolleson, Ph.D.
Fall 2009
Course Objectives:
1. To familiarize students with the history of and core theoretical concepts within the British object relations tradition, emphasizing the contributions of Melanie Klein, W.R.D. Fairbairn, and D.W. Winnicott.
2. To promote understanding of the internal object (as distinct from the environmental object) as it both animates and informs the intrapsychic (phantasy) and relational (interpersonal) dimensions of emotional life.
3. To enhance integration of seminal object relations concepts-- the internal object, schizoid and depressive anxieties, object usage, projective identification, and transference/countertransference processes--into an understanding of clinical and sociocultural phenoma.
Required Texts:
1. Klein, M, and Riviere, J. (1936). Love, Hate, and Reparation. New York and London: W.W. Norton & Company, 1964.
2. Ogden, T. (1992). The Matrix of the Mind: Object Relations and the Psychoanalytic Dialogue. Karnac Books.
3. Racker, H. (1968). Transference and Countertransference. New York: International Universities Press.
Course Requirements: All readings are required. Students must come to class prepared to reflect upon and integrate the readings into the classroom discussion.
One paper (12-15 pages in length) is assigned, which is due the last day of class. For the paper, students are expected to independently research one of the core concepts studied in class (through a British/Kleinian/Independent object relations lens), reading in this conceptual tradition beyond the class syllabus (Note: While secondary/integrationist texts are permitted to supplement understanding, students should immerse themselves in primary source theoretical material). Based on this in-depth study, the student should write a formal theoretical paper in which the chosen concept is applied to a “real world” (clinical or socio-cultural) situation (an example is provided in the reading packet). The paper should emphasize how the concept illuminates the phenomenology of the case example (rather than theoretical recitations/reconstructions of infant development). The paper must contain appropriate citations (conforming to APA format), and will be evaluated on quality of writing, creativity of application, and complexity, depth, clarity, and integration of conceptual understanding. Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated.
Grading will be based on the following: Quality of class participation: 40%, Paper: 60%
The course is taught in a lecture/discussion format. Therefore, class attendance is required. For students who miss more than one class session (excepting a personal emergency), the overall course grade will be lowered one level. Students who miss more than two class sessions will automatically fail the course (in cases of personal emergency, the student will be asked to withdraw from the course and retake it the following year).
Except in cases of extreme personal emergency (requiring permission from the instructor before the last class day), there will be no “incompletes” given for the class. An assignment turned in late will not be accepted.
Instructor: Students can contact me at jentolleson@comcast.net or 802-651-7670. My mailing address is 1 Iranistan Rd, Burlington VT 05401.
READING LIST
CLASS 1: THE BRITISH PSYCHOANALYTIC TRADITION
Ogden, T. (1992). The Matrix of the Mind: Object Relations and the Psychoanalytic Dialogue. Karnac Books.
Klein, M., and Riviere, J. (1936). Love, Hate, and Reparation. New York and London: W.W. Norton & Company, 1964.
CLASS 2: THE INTERNAL OBJECT
Grotstein, J. (1994). “Notes on Fairbairn’s metapsychology.” In Fairbairn and the Origins of Object Relations (pp. 112-148), J.S. Grotstein and D.B. Rinsley, Eds. London: Free Association Books, Ltd.
Mitchell, S. (1981). “The origin and nature of the ‘object’ in the theories of Klein and Fairbairn.” Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 17, pp. 374-398. (PEP)
Ogden, T. (1983). “The concept of internal object relations.” International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 64, pp. 227-241. (PEP)
CLASS 3: PRIMITIVE ANXIETIES, THE BAD OBJECT, AND THE SCHIZOID SITUATION IN MELANIE KLEIN
Klein, M. (1946). “Notes on some schizoid mechanisms.” In Envy and Gratitude and Other Works, 1946-1963 (pp. 1-24). New York: Delacorte Press, 1975.
Klein, M. (1948). “A contribution to the theory of anxiety and guilt.” International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 29, pp. 114-123. (PEP)
CLASS 4: PRIMITIVE ANXIETIES, THE BAD OBJECT, AND THE SCHIZOID SITUATION IN FAIRBAIRN AND WINNICOTT
Fairbairn, W.R.D. (1952). “The repression and the return of bad objects (with special reference to the ‘War Neuroses.’ ” Psychoanalytic Studies of the Personality (pp. 59-81). London: Routledge.
Winnicott, D.W. (1960). “Ego distortion in terms of true and false self.” In The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment (pp. 140-152). London, Hogarth Press, 1965.
CLASS 5: THE DEPRESSIVE POSITION
Klein, M. (1935). “A contribution to the psychogenesis of manic-depressive states.” In Contributions to Psycho-Analysis, 1921-1945 (pp. 282-311). London: Hogarth Press, 1968.
Klein, M. (1940). “Mourning and its relation to manic-depressive states.” In Contributions to Psycho-Analysis, 1921-1945 (pp. 311-338). London: Hogarth Press, 1968.
Winnicott, D.W. (1935). “The manic defence.” In Through Paediatrics to Psycho-Analysis (pp. 129-144). New York: Hogarth Press, 1977.
Winnicott, D.W. (1954-55). “The depressive position in normal development.” In Through Paediatrics to Psycho-Analysis (pp. 262-277). New York: Basic Books, 1975.
CLASS 6: OBJECT USAGE
Benjamin, J. (1990). “Recognition and destruction: An outline of intersubjectivity.” In Like Subjects, Love Objects: Essays on Recognition and Sexual Difference. New Have: Yale University Press, 1995.
Symington, N. (1983). “The analyst’s act of freedom as an agent of therapeutic change.” International Review of Psycho-Analysis, 10, pp. 283-291. (PEP)
Winnicott, D.W. (1969). “The use of an object and relating through identifications.” International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 50, pp. 711-716. (PEP)
CLASS 7: PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION
Bollas, C. (1987). “Extractive introjection.” In The Shadow of the Object: Psychoanalysis of the Unthought Known (pp. 157-172). New York: Columbia University Press.
Klein, M. (1955). “On identification.” In New Directions in Psychoanalysis. Tavistock.
Ogden, T. (1979). “On projective identification.” International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 60, pp. 357-373. (PEP)
Sandler, J. (1976). “Countertransference and role-responsiveness.” International Review of Psychoanalysis, 3, pp. 43-47. (PEP)
CLASS 8: TRANSFERENCE AND COUNTERTRANSFERENCE
Heimann, P. (1950). “On countertransference.” International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 31, pp. 81-84. (PEP)
Racker, H. (1968). “Analysis of transference through the patient’s relations with the interpretation,” “The countertransference neurosis,” “The meanings and uses of countertransference,” “Psycho-analytic technique and the analyst’s unconscious masochism,” “Psycho-analytic technique and the analyst’s unconscious mania,” and “Counterresistance and interpretation.” In Transference and Countertransference (pp. 71-192). Madison: International Universities Press.