What is Self Psychology?
Far, Far Away Soria Moria Palace Shimmered Like Gold, Painting by Theodor Kittelsen, 1900
Self psychology is a school of thought within psychodynamic therapy developed by Heinz Kohut in the 1970s. It emerged as a response to limitations in classical psychoanalysis, particularly its emphasis on drive theory and interpretation of intrapsychic conflict. Kohut proposed that the formation and maintenance of the self is an important aspect of psychological health, and that disruptions in the development of the self can lead to many forms of psychopathology. Self psychology centers on the individual’s experience of self-cohesion, self-esteem, and the need for empathic relationships rather than focusing solely on unconscious desires and internal conflicts.
A key concept in self psychology is the idea of “selfobjects,” which refers to people or things that help individuals maintain a coherent sense of self. In early development, caregivers function as selfobjects by providing mirroring, idealization, and twinship experiences that support the emerging self. When these functions are not adequately fulfilled, it can lead to developmental deficits and fragmentation of the self. Self psychology suggests that symptoms such as low self-worth, narcissism, and chronic emptiness come from these early relational difficulties, rather than in repressed sexual or aggressive drives as suggested by classical Freudian theory.
Empathy plays a central role in self psychology, not just as a therapeutic stance but as a way of understanding the patient’s inner experience. Kohut believed that empathy from the therapist is essential for healing, as it helps the patient feel seen, understood, and emotionally held. This empathic mirroring allows patients to internalize new selfobject functions, gradually assisting the deficits in their sense of self. Therapists working from a self psychology framework prioritize maintaining a stable and responsive therapeutic relationship rather than focusing heavily on interpretation.
Triglav, Painting by Markus Pernhart, 19th Century
Self psychology also redefined how clinicians understand and work with narcissism. Kohut argued that narcissistic disorders are not the result of excessive self-love but of deficits in the self caused by inadequate empathic responses in early life. He distinguished between healthy narcissism, which supports ambition, and pathological narcissism, which reflects efforts to compensate for a self that is more fragile. Treatment seeks to restore the self’s cohesion through a therapeutic relationship that meets the patient’s unmet developmental needs in a symbolic way.
Overall, self psychology shows a shift within psychodynamic therapy toward a more relational and developmental understanding of psychopathology. It emphasizes the importance of empathy, the therapeutic relationship, and the role of early selfobject experiences in shaping psychological health. Kohut’s ideas have had a great impact on contemporary psychoanalytic thinking and have influenced various forms of relational and humanistic therapy.