You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
In Object Relations Family Therapy, David and Jill Scharff illustrate the application of the British object relations theory to psychoanalytic work with individuals, couples, and families. The basis for their approach rests primarily on Fairbairn's theoretical constructions, and—to a lesser extent—on some of the contributions of Winnicott, Guntrip, Balint, Klein, and Bion. The authors stress the utilitarian value of object relations theory to interpersonal interactions characteristic of families and couples. In contrast, classical psychoanalytic instinct theory is essentially an intrapsychic frame of reference, useful in individual psychoanalysis, but of limited empirical value in group work.
The Scharffs demonstrate how one can apply Fairbairnian principles, with some modifications, to understanding families from theoretical, developmental, and therapeutic perspectives. Fairbairn indicates that inevitable dissatisfaction with the maternal object is the only motive for object integration. The Scharffs state that not only is there defensive object introjection as Fairbairn describes, but that the internal object is also derived from pleasure inherent in object relations themselves.
Another illustration of Fairbairn's concepts applied to family relationships is the repression of the libidinal system by the antilibidinal ego and the rejecting object. The Scharffs see this mechanism operating when couples fight and complain but neither person is able to speak of his or her underlying hurt and longing. The authors add to Fairbairn's mechanisms the concept of the libidinal system repressing the antilibidinal system, for example, when couples repress their contempt by mutual expressions of affection and concern.
The Scharffs' technique of family therapy emphasizes developmental family interactions. They develop concepts of centered holding and contextual holding from early object relations. These holding concepts are vital components of the authors' object relations family th