Selfpszichológia

Selfpszichológia, often translated as self-psychology, is a school of psychoanalytic theory that originated with Heinz Kohut. It emerged in the late 1950s and 1960s as a departure from classical Freudian psychoanalysis. Kohut's theory emphasizes the importance of empathy in the development of the self. He proposed that individuals require responsive interactions with their environment, particularly from caregivers, to develop a cohesive and stable sense of self. These interactions, termed "selfobject" experiences, involve others who provide mirroring, idealization, and twinship, essential for regulating self-esteem and developing psychological capacities.

Kohut believed that developmental deficits in selfobject experiences can lead to various psychological difficulties, often characterized by a lack of self-cohesion, low self-esteem, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. These issues, in self-psychology, are not seen as stemming from repressed drives or instinctual conflicts, but rather from disruptions in the development of the self. The therapeutic goal in self-psychology is to provide the patient with a corrective selfobject experience within the analytic relationship. Through empathic attunement and careful observation, the therapist aims to help the patient understand their developmental deficits and foster the growth of a more robust and integrated self. This approach shifted the focus from the interpretation of transference in a classical sense to a more nuanced understanding of the patient's subjective experience and their need for empathic engagement.