Self Psychology - Concepts - The Tripolar Self

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.

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