Anxiety and Personality: The Concept of a Directing Object and its Applications - Softcover

Koenig, Karl

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782200401 ISBN 13: 9781782200406

Publisher: Routledge, 2015

Synopsis

The concept of a "directing object" is based on extensive clinical observations linked to a combination of ego psychology and object relations theory in the tradition of Otto Kernberg and Anne Marie and Joseph Sandler. People with a phobic disposition are those who were not, during childhood, permitted to learn by trial and error and thus gain confidence in their actions. They did not learn to direct their own actions and did not develop confidence in their capability to act successfully. In their inner world, they did not establish an internal directing object. Thus, they now need an external directing object, who watches over them. This has considerable influence on interpersonal relationships and on work. Phobic persons can work without difficulty when there is a external directing object, but they will not be able to work without such a companion. In therapy, they use their therapist as a directing object, which can create the illusion that the phobic patient is already much better.

About this title

About the Author

Karl Koenig

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1782200401
• ISBN 13: 9781782200406
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96