Kohut did not accept the central position of the Oedipal process and introduced a new central position. The oedipal period is not a center, he says, but a breeding ground for neurotic conflicts. The ‘self’ is at the centre. But the self is in a structure that can never be fully explained and fully analysed.
Self-object overstimulation: Structural Neurosis Emotional distance from the self-object: Causes self-disorders.
Kohut says seduction by thinking differently from Freud: they are manifestations of the distorted fantasy lives of overstimulated children. He considered that aggression is a situation that emerges only “when there is a danger of self-dissolution” as an effort to reveal oneself. The goal in therapy is to enable the client to establish adequate empathy with himself and to recognize the context of the sense of juiciness.
He studied the self as two poles; 1-) Arrogant (Exhibitionist) Self (Mother) 2-) Idealization (Parent) imago. (Father) Intermediate Domain: Executive function is abilities. Basic passions: Mother Ideals: Father
The danger of the self: It is due to the intensity of the impulses. He interpreted dreams as an effort to cope with visual images that are trying to keep the self together.
Defensive Structure: Covering the primary deficiency Compensatory Structure: Compensating rather than covering the deficiency. (Strengthen the other pole to counter the weakness.)
He saw excessive excitement in personality disorders as a defensive structure, and defined depression as resisting feelings of inner deadness.
Primary Structure: It is the mother’s “mirroring” of the child’s exhibitionism. The mother creates the conditions for fusion with her self-object. The father’s task is to create an idealized image. (Unlike the archaic period)
He explained the difference between narcissism and Borderline as follows: If “expectation” still exists, it is narcissism. In narcissism; He argued that there is no need to go down to the oedipal processes and that self-acceptance is the central issue. No expectation: Borderline.
Affective Disorders: It occurs as a result of the child’s fusion with the self-object with depressive/manic responses.
Sadistic sexual activities seen in narcissism: The mirroring mother is unsuccessful, flawed. Masochism: It is the fusion of the omnipotent father imago (rejecting, punishing, demeaning) with its features.
Trauma, which is seen a lot in the early stages of infancy; may cause the child to be overly demanding.
Interpretations in therapy: Eliminates defenses—Softens archaic structures—Creates transforming structures (Internalization by transforming) creates newly formed psychological structure. Transforming and internalizing self-objects; will gradually strengthen the self. He acquired the fetish object: to receive the “good and emotional response” from the mother. It is caused by a lack of mirroring.
The fixations formed are: In order not to disintegrate the self; erogenous zones of the body are formed as a result of using them as if they are dependent. Weakening of the self brings out the drive fixation.
Eating Disorders: Indicates the need for the self-object that gives food. Somatization: Attaching self-dividing concerns to body parts. Transforming and internalizing self-objects; will gradually strengthen the self.
Criminal Man: Lives on the pleasure principle. Tragic Human: The core tries to express the pattern of the self
Voyeurism: Occurs when self-object idealization fails. Exhibitionism: There will be obsession with the icon of greatness due to the lack of mirroring.
Healthy Oedipal Process: It should be met with joy and pride in the child, combined with sexual and aggressive responses. Dad should let it mix into adult size. The oedipal period is not a center, he says, but a breeding ground for neurotic conflicts. Oedipus, although not universal, left a question mark saying that it could not be one of the common consequences of parental mistakes.
