Anxiety and Personality: The Concept of a Directing Object and its Applications

Karl K�nig

ISBN 10: 0367102196 / ISBN 13: 9780367102197

Published by Routledge 2019-07-25, 2019

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 6666-TNFPD-9780367102197

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Anxiety and Personality: The Concept of a Directing Object and its Applications
• Publisher: Routledge 2019-07-25
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0367102196
• ISBN 13: 9780367102197
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The concept of a "directing object" is based on extensive clinical observations linked to a combination of ego psychology and object relations theory in the tradition of Otto Kernberg and Anne Marie and Joseph Sandler. People with a phobic disposition are those who were not, during childhood, permitted to learn by trial and error and thus gain confidence in their actions. They did not learn to direct their own actions and did not develop confidence in their capability to act successfully. In their inner world, they did not establish an internal directing object. Thus, they now need an external directing object, who watches over them. This has considerable influence on interpersonal relationships and on work. Phobic persons can work without difficulty when there is a external directing object, but they will not be able to work without such a companion. In therapy, they use their therapist as a directing object, which can create the illusion that the phobic patient is already much better.

About the Author

Karl Koenig