This volume explores the psychoanalytic theory of object relations and its application to the study of marital and family interaction. Freud's object relations model lends itself well to the study of internalized object relations and external personal relations. Integrating various psychoanalytic conceptualizations as well as contributions of Piagetian scholars, this book incorporates a strong flavor of general systems theory. The study covers the breakdown of marital relationships, narcissism of partners, separation and individuation of adolescent offspring, role typing, family communication, defense mechanisms, entrapping and emotional processes.

This established text presents a framework for integrating group psychology with psychoanalytic theories of object relations, the ego and the self, through the perspective of general systems theory. It defines and discusses key constructs in each of the fields and illustrates them with practical examples.

Over the course of a long and distinguished career, psychologist and psychoanalyst Sidney J. Blatt has made major contributions to cognitive-developmental theory, psychoanalytic object relations theory, applied psychoanalysis, and current research in the areas of psychopathology and psychotherapy. This book presents chapters by Dr. Blatt's many colleagues and students who address the key areas in which Dr Blatt focuses his intellectual endeavours: *Personality development *Psychopathology *Issues in psychological testing and assessment *Psychotherapy and the treatment process *Applied psychoanalysis and broader cultural trends Relatedness, Self-Definition and Mental Representation explores Dr. Blatt's unique contributions within both psychoanalysis, where empirical research is often neglected, and clinical psychology, where psychoanalysis is increasingly ignored. It will be engaging reading for psychoanalysts and clinical psychologists, as well as all those concerned with psychotherapy and personality theory and development.

Foreword by Tibor Scitovsky Introduction by Paul J. Albanese Novelty, Comfort, and Pleasure: Inside the Utility Function Black Box by Shlomo Maital How the Opponent-Process Theory of Acquired Motivation Came Into Economics by Richard L. Solomon A Model of Consumption and Demand Based on Psychological Opponent Processes by Lester D. Taylor The Intimate Relations of the Consistent Consumer: Psychoanalytic Object Relations Theory Applied to Economics by Paul J. Albanese Personality, Culture, and Organization by Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries and Danny Miller Decisions, Coalitions, and the Economy of the Self by Abraham Zaleznik The Entrepreneur and Society by Joshua Ronen Toward a New Paradigm by Amitai Etzioni