Knowing me, knowing you: A systematic review of object relations assessment.

Abstract

Tools for assessing object relations (ORs) are fundamental for psychodynamic theory, research, and practice. ORs play an important role in diagnostic and therapeutic processes, helping therapists to better understand and manage complex relational functioning in their patients. The clinical relevance of OR is also recognized by the first criterion of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition Alternative Model for Personality Disorders. Our goal is to provide clinicians and researchers with an updated review of the available empirical tools to assess OR. We conducted a systematic search on APA PsycInfo and Pubmed and retrieved 42 instruments from the existing literature. Some of these assessment tools are well established in the scientific community. Among the less popular ones, we identified some instruments that show good potential and may be granted a further round of validation. We encourage the development of existing and new instruments within the framework of Kernberg's theory of personality organization, and a further inquiry into qualitative aspects of ORs dyads, which may help therapists obtain more sophisticated information on their patients' relational functioning.

On Personality Measures and Their Data: A Classification of Measurement Approaches and Their Recommended Uses

“…xvii, 125, 139). Although personality is inside the person, the individual's inner selfconcept and perspectives on the world are influenced by their relationships with other people "on the outside" (e.g., Cvencek et al, 2021;Felici et al, 2023;J. H. Morgan, 2014).…”

“…Observers of the person in different situations may rate the individual on various traits ("Situation Data," Table 2). Such informant reports are especially important given that a group of theories argue that a person's inner sense of self develops from their interactions with others and from how others perceive them (e.g., Cvencek et al, 2021;Felici et al, 2023). Observers likely evaluate certain aspects of the target individuals' social interactions in a manner equal to or more accurate than can targets themselves (Carlson et al, 2011;Sun & Vazire, 2019), particularly when a trait's expression is observable, not too evaluative, and observer judgments are aggregated (e.g., Kenny & West, 2010;Paunonen & Kam, 2014;Rau et al, 2021).…”