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Theories of Abnormal Behavior: Whole Object Relations Theory and Narcissism

Updated: Jun 4, 2023

Whole Object Relations Theory is the ability to form or obtain an “integrated, realistic, and relatively stable image of oneself and other people” (Greenberg, 2019). It is further explained that individuals who lack these abilities will see not only themselves but others as either all good, or all bad. There is no middle ground. It could be true that someone pleases you one minute, so you drop them into the all good bucket, but the moment that they do something that you do not like nor agree with they are dropped into the all bad bucket (Greenberg, 2019).


This theory views behavior as something that has been ingrained in each of us since infancy (Kernberg, n.d.). As a child we all develop mental or internal representations of ourselves and of other people, how these representations develop and form are seen as the “building blocks organizing people’s internal life, including their motivations and behavior,” (Kernberg, n.d.). These concepts and theories are all created out of Sigmund Freud’s theory that each and every person is motivated by sexual and/or aggressive desires, and essentially boiling down to the need of individuals to form relationships with others (Somerstein, 2016).


Explain How your Theory Describes the Cause of your Selected Abnormal Behavior.


This learner selected narcissistic behavior as an abnormal behavior as a consequence of not fully developing, or not developing Whole Object Relations in adolescence. Narcissistic behavior can be classified as an abnormal behavior because of the fact that it meets the “four Ds” (Nolen-Hoesksema, 2014). The four Ds are:


“Dysfunctional—Interferes with daily functioning or the ability to form relationships.

Distressing—Causes distress to self or others.

Deviant—Far outside of cultural norms or potentially harmful to self or others.

Dangerous—Causes harm to self or others.”


Individuals that suffer from narcissistic behavior, will suffer from behavioral features which impair their ability to create or form meaningful relationships, such as:


“(1) Impulsivity, (2) Volatility, (3) Attention-Seeking, (4) Low Self-Esteem, and (5) Unstable Interpersonal Relationships,” (Kacel, Ennis, Pereira, 2018).


Narcissistic personality disorder causes distress to self and others due to the maladaptive personality style, which ultimately will lead individuals who suffer from these disorders to problems as well as distress for not only themselves but for the other individuals in which they interact with (Miller, Campbell, Pilkonis, 2007). Narcissism is also extremely dangerous as well as deviant in many ways such as: (1) Individuals who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder a lot of times will not respect experts, especially psychologists who try to help the individuals or their family through their troubles; (2) Individuals who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder will a lot of times act without consultation of others, they will react instead of respond to a situation no matter how dangerous it is and they will do so without any regard of harm to themselves or to others; (3) Individuals who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder will, if it fits their needs, will put their lives in danger, this could be to show off, seek attention or so forth, if it fits their agenda, they will do it for the reaction it will create out of others; (4) Individuals who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder will have low empathy toward other individuals, and being right and dominating the current activity or project will be far more important to them than seeing something from someone else’s perspective; and (5) Individuals who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder will enjoy or like drama, they enjoy being able to play people against other people, or will keep harmful secrets from individuals where it could help the other person succeed, they will also make decisions autonomously placing other individuals at risk of their choices (Jack, 2020).


Now with all of this explained, it expresses how narcissistic behavior is in fact abnormal behavior, in the way that Whole Object Relations Theory views narcissism, as the response, to not being able to develop meaningful relationships in childhood (Somerstein, 2016). Understanding the inability to form meaningful interpersonal relationships as a condition of narcissistic personality disorder, narcissism could then be classified as complex trauma—which would be described as “severe, chronic interpersonal trauma” (Spermon, Darlington, Gibney, 2010) which began with the early formative years in adolescence.


Compare and Contrast the Point of View Chosen with the Sociocultural Viewpoint.


When narcissism is looked at from a sociocultural viewpoint, it is found that individuals from only-child households, higher socioeconomic classes, individuals from urban areas and other influences are indicative of future narcissistic behavior as an adult—which, speaking of, it was also shown that individuals of a younger age were more narcissistic than those of an older age (Cal, Kwan, Sedikides, 2011). One thing of particular interest is having the ability to determine what is complex trauma formed from childhood neglect or the inability to form meaningful relationships with parents at a young age, and what is in fact a true psychological disorder, or what is a symptom of adverse life events.


Being able to determine the differences will be the important factor in determining methods of treatment in psychiatry; for example, individuals that suffer a lot of the same psychological issues as someone who has deeper rooted, true psychological disorders will be treated differently than an individual that is truly suffering the true psychological disorder (Wakefield, First, 2013). After extreme or traumatic life events, individuals not having a previous or severe psychological disorder can exhibit symptoms of those life-long or severe psychological disorders but would need to be treated differently than individuals not in a temporary life condition or those not having recently suffered a life altering event (Wakefield, First, 2013). So, while the conditions can be viewed very similarly in a lot of cases, it is important to ensure that we are able to view them independently to be able to fully understand what the individual needs.


Describe the Benefits or Drawbacks to Applying Multiple Theories to Defying Abnormal Behavior.


This learner does not necessarily believe that in the instance with narcissism, particularly, that it would be a drawback to apply additional theories in order to defy the abnormal behavior. This learner believes that it would in fact actually be worthwhile, because in the study by Wakefield and First (2013), it is so important to understand why you are treating an individual the way that you are and being able to articulate the differences in this individuals behavior compared to another that suffers the exact same symptoms. In fact, the proposed drawback would then be a benefit. Being able to provide proper care to an individual and being able to conduct studies on several people exhibiting the same symptoms with different backgrounds could lead to more diverse data being populated.



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