On losing and finding home: and how the external object world facilitates psychic growth.
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| Title: | On losing and finding home: and how the external object world facilitates psychic growth. |
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| Authors: | McEnery West, Clea J (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Psychodynamic Practice. Nov2025, Vol. 31 Issue 4, p388-404. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Grief, Home (The concept), Winnicott, D. W. (Donald Woods), 1896-1971, Identity (Psychology), Psychotherapy, Personal property, Psychoanalysis, Bereavement, Maturation (Psychology) |
| Abstract: | The article explores the emotional and psychological significance of home and material possessions in the context of grief and mourning, particularly following the author's mother's death. It discusses the complex relationship individuals have with inherited belongings and how these items can evoke memories and feelings tied to the deceased, as well as the broader implications for personal identity and emotional development. The author draws on psychoanalytic theories, particularly those of Christopher Bollas and Donald Winnicott, to illustrate how early experiences with caregivers shape our interactions with objects and spaces throughout life. The paper emphasizes the importance of processing grief and the transformative potential of therapy in helping individuals navigate their relationships with both their past and their material world. [Extracted from the article] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | The article explores the emotional and psychological significance of home and material possessions in the context of grief and mourning, particularly following the author's mother's death. It discusses the complex relationship individuals have with inherited belongings and how these items can evoke memories and feelings tied to the deceased, as well as the broader implications for personal identity and emotional development. The author draws on psychoanalytic theories, particularly those of Christopher Bollas and Donald Winnicott, to illustrate how early experiences with caregivers shape our interactions with objects and spaces throughout life. The paper emphasizes the importance of processing grief and the transformative potential of therapy in helping individuals navigate their relationships with both their past and their material world. [Extracted from the article] |
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| ISSN: | 14753634 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/14753634.2025.2458925 |
