A Brief Reply to Kenneth A. Frank and Kim Bernstein

Abstract

I reply to Kenneth A. Frank and Kim Bernstein in an attempt to ferret out genuine agreements and disagreements. The basic disagreement, as I see it, concerns the theoretical foundational implications of Kohut's self-selfobject conceptualization. The selfobject, whether experienced as part of the self or not (their argument is that in the beginning it was solely a one-person model), in my view referred to a person outside who was essential to the development of the self, creating the fundamental underpinnings of a relational/structural model, subsequently to be developed into a full relational model.

Keywords:

• self
• selfobject
• relational/structure model
• provision
• evolution of a theory

Notes

¹I thank Steven Kuchuck and Deborah Pines, the Co-Editors, for affording me the opportunity to reply.

²While Kohut in his first book focused on the theory and treatment of narcissistic personality disorders, the theory of narcissistic/self development and the need for selfobjects implicitly applied to all. Narcissistic/self development had been arrested in narcissistic personality disorders.