: When Maya is late, Leo "projects" his internal Rejecting Object onto her. Suddenly, she isn't the woman who bought him coffee yesterday; she is the "Bad Maya" who is intentionally abandoning him. 3. Projective Identification
Self and others: Object relations theory in practice. - APA PsycNet Self and Others: Object Relations Theory in Pra...
Because the pain of a "bad" caregiver is too much for a child to hold alongside the need for a "good" one, Leo used —separating people into "all-good" or "all-bad" categories. : When Maya is late, Leo "projects" his
In Leo’s mind, Maya isn't just Maya. She has become a "representation" of his . When he was a toddler, his primary caregiver was often physically present but emotionally "blank" or rejecting when he was distressed. To survive, Leo internalized this experience, creating a "blueprint" of a Rejecting Object (the unavailable caregiver) and a Devalued Self (the child who isn't worth staying for). 2. Splitting and Projection She has become a "representation" of his
Leo, a successful architect, has a habit of "quitting before he can be fired"—not just in jobs, but in love. He is currently dating Maya. When Maya is five minutes late or forgets to text, Leo doesn’t just feel annoyed; he feels a cold, familiar void. 1. The Internalized Object