The Tripolar Self
The tripolar self is not associated with bipolar disorder, but is the sum of the three "poles" of the body:
- "grandiose-exhibitionistic needs"
- "the need for an omnipotent idealized figure"
- "alter-ego needs"
Kohut argued that 'reactivation of the grandiose self in analysis occurs in three forms: these relate to specific stages of development...(1) The archaic merger through the extension of the grandiose self; (2) a less archaic form which will be called alter-ego transference or twinship; and (3) a still less archaic form...mirror transference'.
Alternately, self psychologists 'divide the selfobject transference into three groups: (1) those in which the damaged pole of ambitions attempts to elicit the confirming-approving response of the selfobject (mirror transference); (2) those in which the damaged pole of ideals searches for a selfobject that will accept its idealisation (idealising transference); and those in which the damaged intermediate area of talents and skills seeks...alter ego transference.'
The tripolar self forms as a result of the needs of an individual binding with the interactions of other significant persons within the life of that individual.
Read more about this topic: Self Psychology, Concepts