Adolescence, Facilitating Environment and Self object Presence: Linking Winnicott and Kohut's Self Psychology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59539/1679-432X-v9n2-62Keywords:
adolescence; enabling environment; selfobject; Winnicott; Kohut.Abstract
In this presentation, Winnicott's view on adolescence will be discussed in relation to the consolidation and the “expansion” of the self in maturity and adulthood. Winnicott's ideas on the “facilitating environment” for adolescents' maturation will be presented and elaborated with Kohut’s “selfobject” concept, referring to specific selfobject needs intensified during adolescence. I will introduce the idea that the maturational process of adolescence leads to the attainment of two specific capacities: the capacity for empathic altruism, social commitment and responsibility and the capacity for joy. The relation of these ideas to adolescent process will be demonstrated with clinical vignettes.References
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