William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn's

Object Relations Theory

Libido is object seeking. A fresh take on object relations.

Enhanced diagram of Freud's structural modal (left), Fairbairn's 1944 endopsychic structure (center), and John Padel's 1991 composite (right).

Fun facts

Analyzed Harry Guntrip, pseudonym of "Jack"
Part of controversial papers discussion with Melanie Klein and the concept of "phantasy"
Member of the "independent group" of psychoanalysts

Bibliography

Padel, J. (1991) Fairbairn's thought on the relationship of inner and outer worlds. Free Association, 2, (4) 589-615.

Terms

Splitting
Libido
Central ego
compare to Ego in Freudian Psychoanalysis
Antilibidinal ego aka Internal Saboteur
compare to Superego in Freudian Psychoanalysis
Libidinal ego
Ideal object aka IO
Rejecting object aka RO
Exciting object aka EO