The focus on human personality and its disorders—extending beyond symptomatology and inner fantasy to concern with the whole self and relationship—has created a paradigm shift in psychoanalysis. Detailed observation and study of growing children and their mothers lent impetus
to this change, and gave increased relevance to the object relational concept of the infant's psychic internalisation of external perception. A leading figure in the treatment of personality disorder, James F. Masterson drew much from Margaret Mahler's developmental constructs and John Bowlby's
conceptualisations of attachment. In particular, Masterson's work built upon Mahler's subphases of separation–individuation in order to define the progression of unmet psychic needs underlying the schizoid, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders. Relatedly, Masterson's approach
implemented Bowlby's formulations of secure mother–child attachment in shaping an effective therapeutic alliance. Following Bowlby, Masterson emphasised the patient's developmental need for a steadfast therapeutic frame and therapeutic respect for the despair suffered by patients coming
to grips with the early trauma of insecure attachment. Extensive illustrations of Masterson's specific interventions with the different personality disorder types are included.
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Keywords:
ABANDONMENT DEPRESSION;
ATTACHMENT THEORY;
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY;
PERSONALITY DISORDER;
SECURE BASE
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date:
01 June 2023
More about this publication?
Attachment: New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis is a new leading edge journal for clinicians working relationally with their clients; it is a professional journal, featuring cultural articles, politics, reviews and poetry relevant to attachment and relational issues; an inclusive journal welcoming contributions from clinicians of all orientations seeking to make a contribution to attachment approaches to clinical work.
It includes up to date briefings on latest developments in neuroscience relevant to psychotherapy and counselling and is an international journal with contributions from colleagues from different countries and cultures.
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