'''Object relations theory''' is a school of thought in [[Psychoanalysis|psychoanalytic psychologytheory]] iscentered thearound processtheories of developingstages aof ego development. Its concerns include the relation of the [[Psyche (psychology)|psyche]] in relation to others in the childhood environment. It designates theories or aspects of theories that are concerned withand the exploration of relationships between real and external people, as well as internal images and the relations found in them.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Object Relations in Psychoanalytic Theory|last=Greenberg|first=Jay|last2=Mitchell|first2=Stephen|publisher=Harvard University Press|year=1983|isbn=0674629752|___location=Cambridge, MA|pages=[https://archive.org/details/objectrelationsi00gree/page/12 12]|url=https://archive.org/details/objectrelationsi00gree/page/12}}</ref> ItThinkers maintainsof the school maintain that the infant's relationship with the mother primarily determines the formation of its personality in adult life. Particularly, [[Attachment theory|attachment]] is the bedrock of the development of the self or the psychic organization that creates the sense of identity.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Family Therapy: An Overview: An Overview|last=Goldenberg|first=Herbert|last2=Goldenberg|first2=Irene|publisher=Thomson Higher Education|year=2008|isbn=9780495097594|___location=Belmont, CA|pages=160}}</ref> Particularly, the need for [[Attachment_theory|attachment]] is the bedrock of the development of the self or the psychic organization that creates the sense of identity.<ref name=":1" />
