Intersubjectivity, object relations theory, and empirical evidence from mother-infant interactions
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11277176 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lynne Murray (0000-0002-1127-4790, Bridge University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1991 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 219-232 |
| Publication date | 1991-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Infant Mental Health Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0163-9641 • E-ISSN: 1097-0355 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/1097-0355(199123)12:3<219::aid-imhj2280120308>3.0.co;2-g |
| OpenAlex | W2082916363 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 12 |
| References cited | 32 |
The work of John Bowlby and his associates on the development of the infant's attachment to his or her parents in the second half of the first year reflects the fruitfulness of an integration of psychoanalytic insights and empirical research. In line with this approach, this paper considers the mother-infant relationship in the first few months from two perspectives: that of the British School of Object Relations and that of the theory of Intersubjectivity, set out initially within developmental psychology and, more recently, developed within systems theory. These views are considered in the light of evidence from two sources. First, a series of experimental studies is described employing disruptions to both the form and the timing of communication between 6- to 12-week-old infants and their mothers. This work illustrates the sensitivity of young infants to the quality of their interpersonal engagements and, also, the contribution of the infant to the regulation of interactions with others. Second, evidence is presented from a prospective study of the effects of maternal depression in the postnatal period on infant development. This work shows the possible longer term consequences for the infant of early disturbances in the mother-infant relationship. Infants of postnatally depressed women were found to be more insecurely attached to their mothers, were more likely to have mild behavioral problems (especially sleep disturbance), and showed poorer outcome on Object Concept tasks at 18 months. These effects occurred despite the fact that the mother had recovered from depression by 3 months postpartum. Le travail de John Bowlby et de ses associés sur le développement de l'attachement du nourrisson à ses parents durant la deuxième moitié de sa première année reftéte la fertilité d'une intégration des jugements psychanalytiques et de la recherche empirique. En accord avec cette approche, ce travail considère la relation mère-nourrisson durant les premiers mois selon deux perspectives: celle de L'Ecole Britannique de Relations Objets; et celle de la théorie d'Intersubjectivité, initialement présentée en psychologie du développement et plus récemment développée en théorie de systèmes. Ces vues sont considérées à la lumière de l'évidence provenant de deux sources. Est tout d'abord décrite une série d'études expérimentales employant des interruptions d'à la fois la forme et le rythme de la communication entre des nourrissons de six à douze semaines et leurs mères. Ce travail illustre la sensibilité des nourrissons à la qualité de leurs engagements interpersonnels, et également la contribution du nourrisson à la régulation des interactiones avec autrui. Est ensuite présentée l'évidence d'une étude des effets de la dépression matemelle durant la période post-natale sur le développement du nourisson. Ce travail montre les possibles conséquences à long terme pour l'enfant, des conséquences de troubles précoces dans la relation mère-nourrisson. II a été établi que les nourrissons de mères atteintes de dépression post-partum étaient bien moins solidement attachés à leurs mères, risquaient d'avoir de légers problémes de comportement (surtout des troubles du sommeil), et avaient de moins bons résultats aux épreuves de Concept Objet à dix-huit mois. Ces effets se produisirent malgré le fait que la mère s'était remise de sa dépression trois mois après la naissance.
Attachment theory · Autism · Developmental psychology · Infantile autism · Interpersonal communication · Intersubjectivity · Maternal sensitivity · Object (grammar) · Object relations theory · Psychoanalysis · Psychoanalytic theory · Set (abstract data type) · Sociology · Strange situation · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Psychology · Social Psychology
The Functions of Postpartum Depression
A Dyadic Systems View of Communication
Object of desire or object of distress? Psychosocial functioning among securely and insecurely attached Indian young adults
"Childhood and the Fear of Death in Ambrose Bierce's The Parenticide Club and "Visions of the Night
When Toddlers Provide Care
Notes on the Technique of Psychoanalytic Infant Observation
The role of attachment security, temperament, maternal perception, and care‐giving behavior in persistent infant sleeping problems
Video interaction guidance inviting transcendence of postpartum depressed mothers' self‐centered state and holding behavior
Cultural learning
Mother—infant interaction structures and presymbolic self‐ and object representations
Dyadic synchrony in parent–child interactions
I’m an okay mother”
Social origins of depression
The construction of reality in the child.
A Prospective Study of Emotional Disorders in Childbearing Women
The Infant's Response to Entrapment between Contradictory Messages in Face-to-Face Interaction
Research Diagnostic Criteria
A Diagnostic Interview
Detection of Postnatal Depression
Talking to children
The infant's role in mother–infant communications
The prosody of maternal speech
The capacity for understanding mental states
Attachment relationships within a family system
Before Speech
The depressed woman
Differences among mothers of infants judged to differ in security
| Unique citing works | 12 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,36 |
| Citation span | 1993 - 2025 (33) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |