David P. Celani, a retired psychologist and adjunct professor at the Object Relations Institute, delves into Ronald Fairbairn's innovative contributions to Object Relations Theory. He discusses the impact of childhood trauma and the mother’s role on personality development, challenging traditional Freudian concepts. Celani explores dissociation, repression, and their effects on adult relationships, particularly regarding battered women. He emphasizes the therapeutic journey of integrating traumatic memories, framing therapists as vital 'good objects' in healing.
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insights INSIGHT
Fairbairn's Radical Challenge to Freud
Ronald Fairbairn challenged Freud's psychoanalytic model by rejecting libido and the Oedipal crisis concepts.
His model focused on a child's dependency on the mother and faced hostility, leading to its neglect in psychoanalysis.
insights INSIGHT
Split Ego Structures in Trauma
Childhood abuse leads to dissociated ego structures: one angry and one hopeful.
These internal pairs, the abused self and libidinal ego, shape reactions to neglect and trauma.
insights INSIGHT
Hope and Denial in Abused Children
The libidinal ego holds on to hope for love despite frequent rejection.
The anti-libidinal ego hides the abuse and seeks acceptance from the rejecting parent.
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Ian Suttie's "The Origins of Love and Hate" is een invloedrijk werk in de psychologie dat een alternatief perspectief biedt op de psychoanalytische theorie van Freud. Suttie benadrukt de rol van liefde en verbondenheid in de ontwikkeling van het kind, in tegenstelling tot Freud's nadruk op agressie en seksuele driften. Het boek bekritiseert Freud's pessimistische visie op de menselijke natuur en biedt een meer optimistische kijk op de mogelijkheden van menselijke relaties. Suttie's werk heeft een grote impact gehad op de ontwikkeling van de objectrelatietheorie en andere humanistische benaderingen van de psychologie. "The Origins of Love and Hate" blijft relevant vanwege zijn nadruk op de behoefte aan liefde en verbondenheid in de menselijke ontwikkeling. Het boek is een belangrijke bijdrage aan het debat over de menselijke natuur en de rol van relaties in de vorming van de persoonlijkheid.
The Illusion of Love
David P. Celani
Standing in the Spaces
Standing in the Spaces
Philip M. Bromberg
Leaving Home
David P. Celani
The Battered Woman
The Battered Woman
Lenore Walker
Lenore Walker's "The Battered Woman" is a seminal work in the field of domestic violence. Published in 1979, it introduced the concept of "battered woman syndrome," a pattern of psychological and behavioral responses in women subjected to long-term abuse. The book details the cycle of violence, the psychological effects of abuse, and the challenges faced by victims in escaping abusive relationships. It significantly influenced legal and social perspectives on domestic violence, leading to increased awareness and advocacy for victims. Walker's research and writing helped to shape the understanding of domestic violence as a complex issue with lasting psychological consequences. The book remains a crucial resource for professionals and advocates working to address domestic violence.
Ronald Fairbairn, A Contemporary Introduction
Ronald Fairbairn, A Contemporary Introduction
David P. Celani
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.
New Books in Psychoanalysis 
