General Psychological Principles i n kOhut's Self Psychology Reconsidered From a Phenomenological Perspective

Abstract

AbstractSelf psychology is the study of the psychodynamics that come into existence with self reflection-that is, the intentions that emerge with introspection. In this respect, self psychology is different from Freudian psychoanalysis and intimately related to the phenomenological-existential perspective. In this paper, I examine how a general psychological model of intentional reflection (the self) can be developed on the basis of Kohut's self psychology, a model that illustrates one of the central organizational principles of human psychology. I conclude with a discussion of the general psychological concepts of self, life-project, and activity in the light of self psychology.