The Psychoanalytic Quarterly 1988/4. [antikvár]

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION The Editors of The Psychoanalytic Quarterly thought it would be of value to our readers for us to assemble a special issue devoted to object relations theories in clinical practice. The increasing attention that is being devoted to psychoanalytic work largely based on one or another theoretical stance that is inf luenced by a concentration on object relationships makes this a timely topic for concentrated study. At the same time, the proliferation of points of view that emphasize object relations, while differing from one another in certain other respects, seemed to us to call out for clarification. It was not easy to determine which among the various theoretical emphases in current usage ought properly to be included in our survey. We should like to express particular appreciation to Dr. Ottó Kernberg, whose own article leads off the collection of papers we have compiled, for his helpful suggestions about this project. Not every relevant theoretical position is represented, nor could every author we contacted agree to submit a paper that explains and demonstrates that author's views in time for inclusion in this issue. We emphatically asked that the contributors go beyond an exposition of the theory of their particular viewpoints, and find ways to demonstrate clearly how the ideas expressed actually affect the author's clinical work. We believe our readers will agree that the contributors responded admirably to the request that practice be addressed as well as theory. Readers will note two additional features of this collection. First, it includes three papers by analysts who are not convinced of the value of piacing special emphasis on object relations, either in clinical work or in theoretical formulations. Second, there are three papers by analysts from countries other than the United States, papers that illustrate relevant views that prevail