Question 1

The theorist most closely identified with the separation-individuation process is
A) Klein.
B) Kohut.
C) Kernberg.
D) Mahler.

Accepted Answer

Mahler is the theorist most closely associated with the separation-individuation process. She studied the normal developmental process of infants as they differentiated themselves from their mothers and began to see themselves as separate individuals. She believed that this process was fundamental to human development and that disruptions could lead to psychopathology.

Question 2

Object relations theorists emphasize the ________ experience of relationships with others,whereas the relational-cultural theorists emphasize the ________ experience of relationships.
A) intrapsychic; interpsychic
B) role of nature in the; role of nurture in the
C) external; internal
D) abnormal; normal

Accepted Answer

Object relations theorists focus on the internal psychological experiences and representations of relationships with others, while relational-cultural theorists emphasize the interpsychic experience of relationships, including the mutual shaping and development of self and other within a larger cultural context. Therefore, option A best captures these differences, highlighting the intrapsychic experience emphasized by object relations theorists and the interpsychic experience emphasized by relational-cultural theorists. Option B is less accurate because neither theory emphasizes nature or nurture exclusively, and options C and D are too broad and miss the specific focus of each approach.

Question 3

Compared to other human relations or object relations theorists,___________ has focused particular attention on borderline patients.
A) Mahler
B) Kernberg
C) Kohut
D) Chodorow

Accepted Answer

Kernberg is known for his work on borderline personality disorder and has written extensively on their object relations and psychic structure. Mahler has focused on infant and child development, Chodorow on gender and family dynamics, and Kohut on narcissism.

Question 4

According to Kohut,narcissistic individuals are looking for a(n)
A) idealized, empathic parent substitute.
B) mirror image of themselves.
C) person who shares their overinflated opinion of themselves.
D) way to resolve their original Oedipal feelings.

Accepted Answer

According to Kohut's self psychology theory, individuals with narcissistic personality disorder have a developmental deficit in their early experiences of not having a responsive and empathic caregiver. They then develop a compensatory strategy of seeking an idealized, empathic parent substitute in their relationships later in life. This satisfies their need for validation, affirmation, and admiration that they never received during their childhood.

Question 5

Unlike classical psychoanalysis,Kernberg's expressive,psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy does not
A) allow for complete transference to develop.
B) employ dream analysis.
C) include the interpretation of everyday behavior.
D) involve interpretation by the therapist.

Accepted Answer

Kernberg's expressive psychotherapy allows for transference but does not rely on it to the extent that classical psychoanalysis does, making it distinct in its approach to patient-therapist dynamics.

Question 6

Of the following theorists,who is LEAST likely to be considered an object relations theorist?
A) Heinz Kohut
B) Margaret Mahler
C) Nancy Chodorow
D) B. F. Skinner

Accepted Answer

B.F. Skinner is a behaviorist, not an object relations theorist. He focused on the impact of reinforcements and punishments on behavior rather than on interpersonal relationships and internalized object representations.

Question 7

The four stages of the separation-individuation process include
A) inception, rapprochement, inquiry, and termination.
B) differentiation, practice, reconnaissance, and consolidation.
C) inception, reconnaissance, inquiry, and termination.
D) differentiation, practicing, rapprochement, and consolidation.

Accepted Answer

The four stages of the separation-individuation process are differentiation, practicing, rapprochement, and consolidation. This process refers to a child's process of becoming independent from their primary caregivers and developing their own sense of self. During differentiation, the child begins to distinguish themselves from their caregivers. Practicing involves the child exploring their environment and developing their skills. Rapprochement is marked by the child's need to return to their caregiver for reassurance and then moving away again. Finally, during consolidation, the child develops a stable sense of self and is able to separate from their caregiver more permanently.

Question 8

Melanie Klein was among the first psychoanalysts to shift the emphasis from innate biological instincts to
A) conditioned responses.
B) innate personality traits.
C) interpersonal relationships.
D) learned behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Melanie Klein's work focused on the importance of interpersonal relationships in shaping personality and emotional development. She believed that early experiences with caregivers, particularly the mother, played a significant role in the development of the individual's psyche. Klein's emphasis on the role of relationships helped shift the focus away from innate biological instincts as the primary driver of behavior.

Question 9

According to Kernberg,the intense changes in interpersonal relationships that are apparent in someone with borderline personality disorder can best be explained by the notion of
A) mirroring.
B) disconnectedness.
C) splitting
D) narcissism.

Accepted Answer

Kernberg's theory of borderline personality disorder emphasizes the individual's tendency to split others and oneself into all-good and all-bad categories. This splitting can lead to intense fluctuations in relationships as the individual will rapidly shift between idealizing and devaluing others, leading to a lack of stable, balanced relationships.

Question 10

Which of the following best exemplifies the borderline characteristic of splitting?
A) Tanya, who has remained depressed for several years
B) Louisa, who cannot stay in serious relationships for long without feeling resentful
C) Ahn, whose personality swings between being very extraverted and being very introverted
D) Perry, whose view of the people in his life constantly shifts from idealized to hateful

Accepted Answer

Splitting is the tendency to view people or situations as either all good or all bad, with little room for complexity or nuance. Perry's constantly shifting view of the people in his life from idealized to hateful is the best example of this characteristic.

Question 11

Steven is a two-and-a-half-year-old child who is beginning to unify the good and the bad aspects of his mother with the image of her as a separate entity in the external world.He is also beginning to develop a stable sense of "me." Mahler would describe Steven as in the _____ phase of the separation-individuation process.
A) consolidation
B) rapprochement
C) normal symbiosis
D) practicing

Accepted Answer

This description fits the consolidation phase of the separation-individuation process according to Mahler. In this phase, children begin to integrate the good and bad aspects of their primary caregivers into a cohesive whole and develop a stable sense of self, indicating a significant advancement in their individuation process.

Question 12

The object in object relations theory refers to
A) any inanimate object.
B) any target that satisfies a drive.
C) anything or anyone with whom a person forms a relationship.
D) the therapeutic subject.

Accepted Answer

In object relations theory, the term "object" refers to anything or anyone with whom a person forms a relationship. This includes people, but also includes inanimate objects that hold symbolic meaning, such as a teddy bear representing comfort and security. Therefore, option C is the best choice as it captures the broad definition of "object" in this theory.

Question 13

Shanice is a newborn baby who is less than a week old.According to Mahler,she is most likely in the ______ phase of development.
A) normal symbiosis
B) practicing
C) consolidation
D) differentiation

Accepted Answer

According to Mahler's theory of infant development, the "normal symbiotic" phase occurs during the first month of life when the newborn is still connected with the mother and is not yet separate from her. This phase is characterized by the infant's need for comfort and security and a sense of oneness with the mother. Consequently, Shanice, who is less than a week old, is most likely in this phase of development. The other phases listed - practicing, consolidation, and differentiation - typically occur later in infancy as the baby develops more autonomy and independence.

Question 14

Kohut believes that when children develop normally,the Oedipus complex
A) will probably produce conflict and anxiety.
B) may be a positive experience.
C) may fail to materialize.
D) will most likely be associated with negative emotions.

Accepted Answer

Kohut's self psychology suggests that the Oedipus complex can be a positive experience, as it involves the child's ambitions and idealizations, which are essential for the development of the self.

Question 15

According to Kohut,which pathological characteristic is most likely to develop when an individual fails to achieve an independent sense of self ?
A) Narcissism
B) Mania
C) Psychosis
D) Social anxiety

Accepted Answer

Kohut believed that a failure to achieve a cohesive and stable sense of self could lead to narcissistic tendencies, such as excessive self-importance and a lack of empathy for others. This is because the individual may rely on external validation and admiration to define their sense of self-worth. Mania and psychosis are more closely associated with severe mental illnesses and may not necessarily be linked to a lack of self-identity. Social anxiety, while it may have some overlap with difficulties in developing a sense of self, is not specifically mentioned by Kohut in relation to this issue.

Question 16

According to Mahler,the process of separation-individuation optimally begins at
A) birth.
B) four months.
C) two years.
D) puberty.

Accepted Answer

According to Mahler's theory of separation-individuation, the process optimally begins at around four months of age when infants begin to differentiate their mother or primary caregiver from themselves and their surroundings. It is during this phase that infants begin to explore their environment, develop a sense of self, and gradually become more independent. While the process of separation-individuation continues throughout childhood and adolescence, the initial phase begins in infancy around four months of age.

Question 17

According to Melanie Klein,children engage in splitting,which essentially means
A) abruptly leaving the company of parents.
B) dividing their personal identity into adult and child components.
C) separating objects and feelings into good and bad aspects.
D) categorizing peers into positive and negative social categories.

Accepted Answer

Melanie Klein proposed that as young children develop, they engage in a defense mechanism called splitting, in which they separate objects and feelings into good and bad aspects. This binary division helps children make sense of a complex and overwhelming world and provides a sense of control over their experiences. However, as children mature, they gradually learn to integrate these split-off aspects and develop a more nuanced view of the world.

Question 18

When Doug was an infant,his parents did not respond positively to his unique,loveable characteristics.As an adult,he finds himself searching in vain for such a positive response from those around him.Kohut would explain Doug's situation by stating that
A) Doug has become narcissistic.
B) Doug's parents mirrored him too much.
C) Doug's problem is caused by inborn physiological brain abnormalities.
D) Doug's parents used an authoritative parenting style.

Accepted Answer

According to Kohut's theory of self psychology, when an individual's early developmental needs for mirroring and idealizing responses are not fulfilled by their primary caregivers, they are at risk of developing a narcissistic personality disorder characterized by a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration. As Doug is searching for validation from those around him, it suggests that he may have developed narcissistic tendencies as a result of his early experiences.

Question 19

During which stage of separation-individuation does an infant begin to understand that she is a separate being from her mother?
A) Consolidation
B) Differentiation
C) Practicing
D) Rapprochement

Accepted Answer

Differentiation is the stage of separation-individuation during which the infant begins to understand that she is a separate being from her mother. Eventually, the infant realizes that she has her own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are independent of her mother's. This is a crucial stage in the development of a healthy sense of self. During this stage, the infant may also start to explore her environment more actively and engage in rudimentary forms of problem-solving.

Question 20

A group of women scholars working out of the Stone Center at Wellesley College has recently put forth a personality theory labeled _______ theory.
A) self-theory
B) relational-cultural
C) object relations
D) separation-individuation

Accepted Answer

The group of women scholars from the Stone Center at Wellesley College has proposed a personality theory called the relational-cultural theory. This theory emphasizes the importance of relationships, interpersonal connections, and cultural contexts in shaping individuals' development and functioning. Option A is incorrect because self-theory is a term that refers to various theoretical perspectives that focus on the self or self-concept. Option C is incorrect because object relations theory is a psychoanalytic theory that emphasizes the impact of early relationships with caregivers on individuals' later functioning and interpersonal relationships. Option D is incorrect because separation-individuation theory is a developmental theory proposed by Margaret Mahler that describes infants' gradual separation from their mothers and the development of a sense of individuation and autonomy.

Quiz 7: Human Relations Object Relations Theory, Relational-Cultural Theory

The theorist most closely identified with the separation-individuation process is

Object relations theorists emphasize the experience of relationships with others,whereas the relational-cultural theorists emphasize the experience of relationships.

Compared to other human relations or object relations theorists,___________ has focused particular attention on borderline patients.

According to Kohut,narcissistic individuals are looking for a(n)

Unlike classical psychoanalysis,Kernberg's expressive,psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy does not

Of the following theorists,who is LEAST likely to be considered an object relations theorist?

The four stages of the separation-individuation process include

Melanie Klein was among the first psychoanalysts to shift the emphasis from innate biological instincts to

According to Kernberg,the intense changes in interpersonal relationships that are apparent in someone with borderline personality disorder can best be explained by the notion of

Which of the following best exemplifies the borderline characteristic of splitting?

The object in object relations theory refers to

Shanice is a newborn baby who is less than a week old.According to Mahler,she is most likely in the ______ phase of development.

Kohut believes that when children develop normally,the Oedipus complex

According to Kohut,which pathological characteristic is most likely to develop when an individual fails to achieve an independent sense of self ?

According to Mahler,the process of separation-individuation optimally begins at

According to Melanie Klein,children engage in splitting,which essentially means

When Doug was an infant,his parents did not respond positively to his unique,loveable characteristics.As an adult,he finds himself searching in vain for such a positive response from those around him.Kohut would explain Doug's situation by stating that

During which stage of separation-individuation does an infant begin to understand that she is a separate being from her mother?

A group of women scholars working out of the Stone Center at Wellesley College has recently put forth a personality theory labeled _______ theory.