Question 1

In psychoanalytic terms, objects are
A) pieces of unconscious material against which the ego defends itself.
B) patients undergoing psychoanalytic therapy.
C) emotionally important people and relationships in one's life.
D) created by emotionally unimportant people in one's life.

Accepted Answer

Objects in psychoanalytic terms refer to emotionally significant people and the relationships one has with them. This concept is central to object relations theory, which focuses on the study of these relationships and their impact on psychological development and functioning.

Question 2

Dr. Ders is a psychotherapist who emphasizes the importance of relating to others as real people who have mixtures of virtues and vices. Dr. Ders is MOST likely a therapist in the tradition of ________ theory.
A) Freudian
B) neo-Freudian
C) Eriksonian
D) object relations

Accepted Answer

The emphasis on relating to others as real people with a mix of virtues and vices is a hallmark of object relations theory. This approach focuses on how our early relationships with caregivers shape our views of ourselves and others, emphasizing the complexity of human relationships.

Question 3

The core idea of object relations theory relates back to Freud's work on how adult behavior toward others stems from childhood relationships. This process is known as
A) the inferiority complex.
B) the psychosocial stages of development.
C) development of the ego.
D) transference.

Accepted Answer

Transference is a concept that stems from Freudian psychoanalysis, referring to the process by which emotions and desires originally associated with one significant person, typically from early childhood, are unconsciously redirected or transferred onto others in later life. Object relations theory, which evolved from Freudian ideas, emphasizes the importance of early family relationships and the patterns of relating to others that are established in childhood, making transference a key concept in understanding adult behavior in relation to others.

Question 4

The object relations theorist Melanie Klein suggests that important love relationships are mixed with emotions such as envy, fear, and guilt. People react to these emotions by
A) avoiding close relationships.
B) resorting to idealizations of relationships.
C) regressing to early stages of psychosexual development.
D) adopting a new object.

Accepted Answer

Klein believed that the complex emotions involved in important love relationships, including envy, fear, and guilt, lead individuals to engage in defense mechanisms such as idealization. This means that people might idealize their relationships or the objects of their affection as a way to manage the negative emotions that are intertwined with their feelings of love.

Question 5

College students often have pictures of their friends and families from back home displayed in their dorm rooms. What do these pictures represent?
A) a transitional object
B) reaching the final stage of psychosocial development
C) a neurotic need for love and acceptance
D) an archetype

Accepted Answer

These pictures serve as transitional objects, helping students navigate the emotional transition from their familiar home environment to the new, often challenging college setting. Transitional objects provide comfort and a sense of continuity and belonging.

Question 6

According to Melanie Klein, the ________ position refers to a child's desire to destroy the bad parts of an object because he or she fears being destroyed by them.
A) depressive
B) destructive
C) psychotic
D) paranoid

Accepted Answer

The paranoid position, according to Melanie Klein, involves the child's fear of destructive forces both from within and from external objects. The child fears being destroyed by these perceived bad parts and thus desires to destroy them first. This concept is part of Klein's object relations theory, which emphasizes the importance of early relationships and how they influence psychological development.

Question 7

According to Melanie Klein, a child who idealizes a parent also
A) feels hatred toward that parent.
B) feels unconditional love toward that parent.
C) desires to have all of that parent's traits.
D) feels ambivalent toward that parent.

Accepted Answer

Melanie Klein's theory posits that children often have complex feelings toward their parents, including both idealization and hatred, due to the integration of the good and bad aspects of the parent in the child's mind. This is part of her concept of the depressive position, where the child begins to see the parent as a whole object, leading to ambivalent feelings.

Question 8

Some psychologists maintain that your relationships with other people are based on the images of them that you hold in your mind. Psychologists who emphasize this idea are known as ________ theorists.
A) object relations
B) Eriksonian
C) Adlerian
D) ego

Accepted Answer

Object relations theorists focus on the internal images or representations that people form of others and how these images impact relationships.

Question 9

What is the overarching principle of object relations theory?
A) Dream objects have a special significance to the person's waking life.
B) Every object we encounter reflects our unconscious experience.
C) We relate to others through our mental images of them.
D) We project psychological characteristics on physical objects.

Accepted Answer

Object relations theory posits that people relate to others primarily through mental images of them, which are shaped by early experiences with caregivers. These images influence how individuals perceive and interact with others throughout life.

Question 10

In Erikson's scheme, we progress from one crisis to another according to
A) processes of physical maturation.
B) developmental tasks at different times of life.
C) the successful repression of inappropriate id impulses.
D) the physical location of libido at each stage.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development posits that individuals progress through a series of crises or challenges at different stages of life, each of which revolves around a specific developmental task or issue.

Question 11

Jamal is entering his freshman year of high school. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, Jamal is likely to face a(n)
A) inferiority complex.
B) struggle for intimacy.
C) identity crisis.
D) sense of shame and doubt.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's psychosocial stages suggest that during adolescence, individuals like Jamal, entering his freshman year of high school, are likely to face an identity crisis as they work through the fifth stage of development, which focuses on identity vs. role confusion.

Question 12

Martha just turned 55 years old and is about to see her last born off to college. According to Erikson, what psychosocial crisis is Martha likely to experience?
A) generativity versus stagnation
B) intimacy versus isolation
C) integrity versus despair
D) industry versus inferiority

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory suggests that at Martha's age, individuals are typically dealing with the crisis of generativity versus stagnation, where they focus on nurturing the next generation and contributing to society, versus feeling unproductive.

Question 13

According to Melanie Klein, the ________ position refers to a child's desire to worship and protect the good parts of an object because he or she fears losing them.
A) depressive
B) constructive
C) enhancing
D) paranoid

Accepted Answer

The depressive position, according to Melanie Klein, involves the child's desire to protect and preserve the good parts of the loved object (often the mother or primary caregiver), stemming from a fear of losing them. This stage reflects a more mature level of development compared to earlier stages, such as the paranoid-schizoid position, and involves feelings of guilt and a desire for reparation for any harm the child fears they have caused to the object.

Question 14

According to Winnicott, a niffle is transitional because it
A) helps the child shift from a time when adults constantly took care of him or her.
B) is useful when moving from place to place.
C) is an object that is personified by children.
D) enables a child to put on a false self.

Accepted Answer

A niffle, or transitional object, according to Winnicott, helps the child transition from a state of being closely cared for by adults to a greater level of independence. It serves as a comfort object during this shift.

Question 15

Modern developmental psychology has been most influenced by Erikson's idea that psychological development
A) occurs in stages.
B) is influenced by parents.
C) happens across the life span.
D) is dependent on physical maturation.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development posits that psychological development occurs across the entire lifespan, from infancy through late adulthood, in a series of stages. Each stage is characterized by a specific conflict that the individual must resolve in order to move on to the next stage successfully. This idea emphasizes the continuous nature of development throughout life, rather than it being confined to childhood or adolescence.

Question 16

Which sequence represents the correct order for Erikson's first three psychosocial stages?
A) basic trust versus mistrust; initiative versus guilt; autonomy versus shame and doubt
B) basic trust versus mistrust; autonomy versus shame and doubt; initiative versus guilt
C) basic trust versus mistrust; initiative versus guilt; identity versus identity confusion
D) identity versus identity confusion; intimacy versus isolation; basic trust versus mistrust

Accepted Answer

Erikson's psychosocial stages begin with basic trust versus mistrust (infancy), followed by autonomy versus shame and doubt (early childhood), and then initiative versus guilt (play age).

Question 17

What neo-Freudian concept or theory did Erik Erikson develop?
A) neurotic needs
B) psychosocial stages of development
C) the animus and anima
D) object relations theory

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson is best known for his theory on the psychosocial stages of development, which expanded upon Freud's psychosexual stages by incorporating social and cultural factors.

Question 18

Major differences between Erikson's theory of personality development and Freud's theory are Erikson's ideas regarding
A) the existence and functioning of the id.
B) development as occurring in a series of stages.
C) the role and pervasiveness of conscious conflict.
D) the importance of parents to a child's development.

Accepted Answer

Erikson emphasized the role of social and cultural factors and conscious conflict in development, whereas Freud focused more on unconscious conflicts and instincts.

Question 19

Ellen is a 50-year-old woman who is raising her two grandchildren, is active in her community, and is learning how to paint. According to Erikson's theory, Ellen has chosen
A) industry.
B) initiative.
C) integrity.
D) generativity.

Accepted Answer

Ellen's activities, such as raising her grandchildren, being active in her community, and learning new skills, align with Erikson's stage of generativity vs. stagnation. This stage typically occurs during middle adulthood and involves contributing to the next generation and being productive in society.

Question 20

A key theme of object relations theory is that
A) every relationship has elements of satisfaction and frustration.
B) every relationship is either pleasurable or frustrating.
C) unconscious processes determine the conflict among one's objects.
D) we are often able to overcome early maladaptive relationships and form mature love relationships.

Accepted Answer

Object relations theory posits that all relationships contain elements of both satisfaction and frustration, reflecting the complex nature of human interactions and the internalized images of others.

Quiz 11: Psychoanalysis After Freud: Neo-Freudians, Object Relations, and Current Research

In psychoanalytic terms, objects are

Dr. Ders is a psychotherapist who emphasizes the importance of relating to others as real people who have mixtures of virtues and vices. Dr. Ders is MOST likely a therapist in the tradition of ________ theory.

The core idea of object relations theory relates back to Freud's work on how adult behavior toward others stems from childhood relationships. This process is known as

The object relations theorist Melanie Klein suggests that important love relationships are mixed with emotions such as envy, fear, and guilt. People react to these emotions by

College students often have pictures of their friends and families from back home displayed in their dorm rooms. What do these pictures represent?

According to Melanie Klein, the ________ position refers to a child's desire to destroy the bad parts of an object because he or she fears being destroyed by them.

According to Melanie Klein, a child who idealizes a parent also

Some psychologists maintain that your relationships with other people are based on the images of them that you hold in your mind. Psychologists who emphasize this idea are known as ________ theorists.

What is the overarching principle of object relations theory?

In Erikson's scheme, we progress from one crisis to another according to

Jamal is entering his freshman year of high school. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, Jamal is likely to face a(n)

Martha just turned 55 years old and is about to see her last born off to college. According to Erikson, what psychosocial crisis is Martha likely to experience?

According to Melanie Klein, the ________ position refers to a child's desire to worship and protect the good parts of an object because he or she fears losing them.

According to Winnicott, a niffle is transitional because it

Modern developmental psychology has been most influenced by Erikson's idea that psychological development

Which sequence represents the correct order for Erikson's first three psychosocial stages?

What neo-Freudian concept or theory did Erik Erikson develop?

Major differences between Erikson's theory of personality development and Freud's theory are Erikson's ideas regarding

Ellen is a 50-year-old woman who is raising her two grandchildren, is active in her community, and is learning how to paint. According to Erikson's theory, Ellen has chosen

A key theme of object relations theory is that