David P. Celani, a retired psychologist and adjunct professor, discusses Ronald Fairbairn's pivotal contributions to Object Relations Theory. He delves into the impact of childhood relationships on emotional development, particularly how parental neglect shapes personality. Celani connects Fairbairn’s theories on ego models and dissociation to modern therapy practices. He critiques traditional views on abusive dynamics and emphasizes the healing power of positive memories, all while linking Fairbairn’s insights to contemporary psychological challenges.
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insights INSIGHT
Fairbairn's Radical Psychoanalytic Shift
Ronald Fairbairn radically challenged Freud's psychoanalytic model, rejecting libido and the Oedipal crisis.
His ideas were initially ignored and met with hostility due to contradicting fundamental Freudian concepts.
insights INSIGHT
Child Dependency Over Drives
Fairbairn's core insight is child development revolves around dependency on caretakers, not sexual drives.
Psychological distress arises from neglect or abuse breaking this essential dependency bond.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Dissociation Creates Internal Structures
Children experiencing parental neglect dissociate traumatic memories to survive psychologically.
These dissociations create internalized ego structures representing abused self and rejecting parental object.
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In this concise and introductory book, David Celani examines the work of Ronald Fairbairn, one of the pioneers of Object Relations Theory. Ronald Fairbairn: A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge, 2025) adopts a unique approach to Fairbairn’s work and legacy. Organizing the book thematically, Celani makes connections between Fairbairn’s disparate and often convoluted papers, offering the reader a more accessible insight into the work of this eminent analyst. He looks in turn at Fairbairn’s field-defining work on Object Relations, split consciousness, repression and the impact of parental neglect on a child’s developing personality. Celani also explores Fairbairn’s assessment of infants’ dependency on their maternal figure and brings his ideas into the 21st century. Considering the work of Philip Bromberg in tandem with that of Fairbairn, Celani considers the practical, clinical and theoretical implications of Fairbairn’s model. This volume is essential reading for analysts in practice and training interested in the work of Fairbairn and the impact Object Relations have had on psychoanalysis as a whole. Celani conducts ongoing educational workshops on Fairbairn at the Object Relations Institute.
David P. Celani is a retired psychologist and adjunct professor at the Object Relations Institute in New York City, USA.
Akilesh Ayyar is a spiritual teacher and writer in New York.
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