Comparing Fairbairn s Motivation Behind His Departure...

nd contrast Fairbairn’s motivation behind his departure from Freud’s structural model and development of object relation’s theory Introduction It is widely accepted that Sigmund Freud coined the term Psychoanalysis. Within this he derived a number of models over the period of his life to explain how the psyche operates and from where trauma originates, which subsequently led to the development of psychoanalysis. Ronald Fairbairn was a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh teaching medicine where he incorporated his extensive knowledge of Freud’s structural model in his lectures. It was during this time that uncertainties provoked Fairbairn to questions the accuracy of the structural model and initiated Fairbairn’s quest to find an alternative theory, which later led to him becoming one of the key contributors to Object relations theory along side, Melanie Klein, and D.W Winnicott. (Object relations theory and practice An introduction, David E. Scharff, pg 5 1996) This essay will compare and contrast some of the key reasons for Fairbairn’s departure from Freud’s Structural model and drive theory and look at the theory behind object relations and how it is used in therapy today. The Pleasure principle Freud’s structural model illustrates that within every individual there is tripartite structure consisting of the Id, Ego and Super Ego. Freud argued that an individual’s instinctual drive was sexually orientated. In the same way that â€Å"hunger seeks nutrition,