Charlene C.

Malicay February 8,
2017
BS- Psychology II PSYCH 24- B

Melanie Kleins Object Relations Theory

Kleins Object Relations Theory somewhat extended Freuds

developmental stages and emphasized so much on the stage from birth to 4-
6 months of a child. However, she suggested that the source of motivation of
a person is through human contact rather than Freuds sexual pleasure.
Object relations theory also focuses on interpersonal relationships and
infants relationship with the mother from birth.

I agree that Kleins Object Relations has depeened our understanding

where our interpersonal relationship come from and how it affects us in
developing our personality. However, for me, it is certain that different social
and cultural influence can also interfere with the childs ability to relate or
interact with other people and to distinguish good and bad. Klein saw
relations with the breast as significant, but what if a child was abandon by
her parents. For example, a child has no known parents and has different
people that would take care of her with different cultural and social
preference. I mean, everyone has different perspective. The bad of the other
might be good for some. If this child has been in the arms of these different
people with different perspective, how will she able to know whats right or
wrong. This confused me so much in this theory, the development of
attachment and personality in this kind of situation could be possible but too
complex to explain and understand.

The implication of object relation theory somehow made sense to me

when she introduced psychic defense mechanisms to protect a persons ego
against anxiety (introjection, projection, splitting, projective identification).
These defense mechanisms somehow are relatable for me, especially
sometimes I relate to others based upon prior experience with someone else.
I directly and generally hate people who have long nails due to prior fault or
because I introjected someone else from my childhood. But as I grow old, I
have learned and have different perspective in life . I guess this is why I am
not really into this theory because of my positive adaptation due to
experience. Of course this wouldnt happen if it were not for the good people
I have in my life.

In my opinion, Kleins Object Relation Theory is still relevant today in

way. Though its idea seems lacking and hanging if you think of it more
thoroughly from the beginning, its concept really helps determine personality
development of a person. However, if you compare it to modern
psychoanalysis, the ideas of object relation theory somehow is left behind
and is still evolving. Nevertheless, object relations theory can still help
determine the development of personality in the modern society. It is
somehow a better basis of relating to others at an earlier stage of
development than did Freud, who emphasized the "genital stage."

Generally, I believe Kleins Object Relations Theory concepts were

comprehensible and that it was briefly explained. However, in my opinion,
early childhood stages history of interpersonal relationships that are
transferred from the past to the present through behavior do not really tell
the personality of a person today, though it can but only fragments. This is
because a lot can change or influence the child upon growing up.