Chapter 5 Klein: Object Relations Theory 163adult object relational functioning, and whether these experiences predict patho-
logical outcomes later in life. One very recent example of this type of work is a
study by a team at York University (Bedi, Muller, & Thornback, 2012).
Sixty adults identified as having had histories of childhood physical and/or
sexual abuse were given the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT; Murray, 1943).
This is what is known in the field as a projective test, and operates much like the
more well-known Rorschach ink blot test, wherein individuals simply describe
what they see in ambiguous images. The assumption of projective tests is that test
takers will “project” unconscious wishes, fantasies, and ideas into their stories and
interpretations of ink blots. Projective tests are alternative ways to uncover uncon-
scious aspects of the personality. The TAT presents participants with a series of
scenes depicting people either alone or in social interactions that are ambiguous in
nature. Participants are instructed to look at the images and make up a story about
what might be happening in the picture, what the characters might be thinking and
feeling, and what the outcome might be. Because the TAT depicts people in rela-
tionships, it is particularly well-suited to examining individuals’ object relations.
The abuse survivors in this study completed the TAT, and their stories were
scored for four object relations themes: a) the degree to which interpersonal rela-
tionships are seen as threatening versus safe; b) the level of commitment and
emotional sharing in relationships; c) the ability to see the self as distinct from
others; and d) the accuracy of attributions about the causes of people’s behaviors,
thoughts, and feelings. The participants also completed a variety of measures of
mental health, including self-esteem and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSD).
The results showed, much as object relations theory would predict, that hav-
ing a tendency to view people and relationships as more malevolent, as well as
investing less emotionally in relationships, was correlated with greater symptoms
of PTSD and lower self-esteem in these abuse survivors. This suggests that such
people with traumatic childhoods see other people as dangerous and rejecting and
this may result in the development within themselves of a feeling of shame and
unworthiness. Treating such individuals effectively likely requires awareness that
even the therapeutic relationship might be impacted by disturbed object relations.
As the researchers write, “Trauma survivors have had personal relationships as a
cause of their pain. Thus, it is crucial for clinicians working with survivors of abuse
to target presenting symptoms of psychopathology through a relational perspective”
(Bedi, Muller, & Thornback, 2012, p. 6). Enabling trauma survivors to learn new
ways that others can respond to them positively, say these researchers, can change
their object representations in healthy ways.
Attachment Theory and Adult Relationships
Attachment theory as originally conceptualized by John Bowlby emphasized the
relationship between parent and child. Since the 1980s, however, researchers have
begun to systematically examine attachment relationships in adults, especially in
romantic relationships.
A classic study of adult attachment was conducted by Cindy Hazan and Phil
Shaver (1987), who predicted that different types of early attachment styles would
distinguish the kind, duration, and stability of adult love relationships. More