An Exploration of Object Relations and the Early Working Alliance in a University Clinic Sample

The current study investigated the relationship between clients' object relations functioning and the working alliance. The Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (SCORS; Westen, 1991), an object relations scoring system for the TAT, was used to assess object relations functioning. Forty-eight therapy clients at a university-based training clinic were administered the TAT, Adult Attachment Scale (AAS), Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R; Derogatis, 1977), and the short form of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD; Crowne & Marlowe, 1960). Following the initial assessment of client characteristics shortly after intake, clients and their therapists rated the working alliance 3 sessions later. Results indicated that the SCORS was significantly correlated with client and therapist ratings of the working alliance. The current study also assessed the predictive validity of the SCORS by examining how its various scales are related to aspects of the working alliance and the other measures used in this study. The findings suggest that the relationship between object relations functioning, the working alliance, symptom severity, and attachment disturbance depends on the aspect of object relations that is being assessed.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2004

Author dc:creator

• Niemeyer, Kristin M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jenkins, Sharon Rae
• Cox, Randall J.
• Kaminski, Patricia L.
• Koch, Shane

• Object relations (Psychoanalysis)
• Therapeutic alliance.
• object relations
• working alliance
• TAT
• Thematic Apperception Test
• psychotherapy
• therapy clients

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Niemeyer, Kristin M.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 56801163
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4583/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc4583

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc4583