Lifelong development of object wholeness: Another perspective

Abstract

Psychodynamic theories of development primarily focus on early development and how it shapes later patterns of human behavior. One of the eight key emotional competencies in Integrative Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is object wholeness, a concept introduced by Melanie Klein (Klein, 1940). Klein explored the earliest stages of object wholeness development and identified manifestations of its deficiencies in adults. We believe that further research into the developmental stages of this ability during later periods of life is valuable. A relevant study comes from an author who uses Jane Loevinger's theory of ego development as a frame of reference (Loevinger, 1970). This paper provides a brief overview of Loevinger's theory, connects it with Klein's findings, and incorporates the contributions of Fairbairn and Kohut to present a potential model for the lifelong development of object wholeness, its relationship to polarities, and the path toward wisdom. Discoveries about ego development from research outside of psychotherapy can greatly enhance our understanding of psychological development, helping us better comprehend the stages of development and what Vygotsky (1993) refers to as the "zone of proximal development." Understanding where we are headed and the "stations" along the way allows us to more effectively guide those on their developmental journey. In this paper, we also present an understanding of ego development through the lens of the development of relationships to opposites, as proposed by Sharma and Cook-Greuter (2011). This perspective offers a different view of the ability to fully experience object wholeness, as described by Melanie Klein during early childhood. It suggests that development starts and ends with object wholeness, progressing from unity to separation, and ultimately returning to unity at a higher level.

Article type

Review article

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