Object relations theory

Object relations theory is a way of understanding how people form relationships and act in relation to other people. It's based on the idea that people learn how to make relationships from observing others, especially in early childhood. The theory suggests that a person's relationships will be based on their experiences in early childhood, when they are first learning how to interact with other people. For example, if a child is shown lots of love and care, they may grow up to become a loving and caring adult who likes to form close relationships. Conversely, if a child is shown a lot of criticism and disapproval, they may grow up to be someone who finds it hard to form close relationships or trust other people. Object relations theory can help us to understand how people behave in their relationships and why they might act a certain way.