Which term describes an object that is valued only for what it can do for the self?

Which term describes an object that is valued only for what it can do for the self?

• A. Self object
• B. Object constancy
• C. Autistic personality
• D. Borderline personality

Answer: (A)

In self psychology, a selfobject is someone who is valued not for their own qualities, but for the function they serve for the self—providing things like mirroring, idealization, or a sense of belonging with another. When an object is valued only for what it can do for the self, it fits this term because the relationship centers on meeting the self’s needs rather than on the object’s independent attributes. For example, a caregiver who constantly reflects and validates the child’s self-esteem is acting as a selfobject, helping the self hold together. Other options don’t capture this function: object constancy refers to maintaining emotional ties when the other is not present, autistic personality organization is an older structural concept about personality, and borderline personality describes broader patterns of instability rather than a specific object serving the self.

In self psychology, a selfobject is someone who is valued not for their own qualities, but for the function they serve for the self—providing things like mirroring, idealization, or a sense of belonging with another. When an object is valued only for what it can do for the self, it fits this term because the relationship centers on meeting the self’s needs rather than on the object’s independent attributes. For example, a caregiver who constantly reflects and validates the child’s self-esteem is acting as a selfobject, helping the self hold together. Other options don’t capture this function: object constancy refers to maintaining emotional ties when the other is not present, autistic personality organization is an older structural concept about personality, and borderline personality describes broader patterns of instability rather than a specific object serving the self.