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Object Relations and Religion

Psyc 450 Psychology of Religion. Object Relations and Religion. James A. Van Slyke. Object Relations Theory. Object Relations works on Internal Relations Inside to Outside Behavior is secondary to internal psychic structure locus for change reason for behavior .

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Object Relations and Religion

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  1. Psyc 450 Psychology of Religion Object Relations and Religion James A. Van Slyke

  2. Object Relations Theory • Object Relations works on Internal Relations • Inside to Outside • Behavior is secondary to internal psychic structure • locus for change • reason for behavior

  3. What is this Internal Structure? • Internal Objects • Psychic structure • formed from the person’s experience • based on important care-taking person

  4. What is this Internal Structure? • Internal Objects • Captured in the personality • Trace of the earlier relationship. • Not a memory, not a representation • Part of the self’s being • Structures the personality • The Primer of Object Relations - Scharff

  5. Unconscious Structures • Parental relationship internalized unconsciously • Infants and children cannot ‘decide’ what to internalize • Child adopts or internalizes whatever environment he or she is born into • Abused children often refuse to leave • Humans often choose the familiar over the novel even if it is psychologically damaging

  6. Emotion and Internal Object • Objects formed from emotion • Emotionally charged • Initial emotional experiences of infant • Initial Emotions structure other objects that become • Become part of a person’s experience

  7. Emotion and Internal Object • The emotion • Provides a framework through which the world of relationships is seen • Highly enduring • Helps to determine mate selection • Emotion is cornerstone of internal objects

  8. Transference • A Psychodynamic theory • Early important relationships are projected onto others • Usually parental relationships • Can be other close relationships

  9. Transference • Occurs in many relationships • Husband/ Wife • Student / Teacher • Therapist/Client • inner conflicts within the client

  10. Object Relations and Religion • Internal objects shape perception of God • Common part of religion • God as “Father” • Jesus as “Friend” • Start a “relationship” with God

  11. Harry Guntrip • Religion • Way of experiencing life and each other • Integration and self-realization • Our way of relating to the universe • Relational definition of religion • Way of communion with God • Religion has a therapeutic goal

  12. Harry Guntrip • Religion • Way of communion with God • Religion has a therapeutic goal • Limits on changing psychic structures • Science cannot penetrate the subjective nature of religion • Relationality at the heart of human existence

  13. David Winnicott • Developmental Theory • Movement from Absolute, to Relative, to full Independence • Provided by a good “holding environment” • “Good enough” mother • Actively responds to the needs of the child

  14. David Winnicott • Developmental Theory • Transitional Objects • Substitute object that provides security • Teddy Bear or blanket • Transitional Space • Space for experiencing relationships • Movement toward secure adult relationships

  15. David Winnicott • Religion • Occurs in the transitional space • Cultural activities • Play • Creativity • Relational Religious experiences

  16. David Winnicott • Religion • Provides a Holding Environment • Spiritual Direction • Prayer • Place where growth and play takes place • Emotional experiences

  17. David Winnicott • Religion • God Image (Object) formed in transitional space • Acts as a transitional object • Based on interactions with parents, yet moves beyond this over time • Remains as a powerful part of the psyche

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