The Analysis of Dominant Patterns of Object Relations in Iranian Couples

This study aimed to analyze the dominant patterns of object relations in Iranian couples. Based on a qualitative method with a thematic analysis approach. The evaluation was done on 10 participants (8 females and 2 males) considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sampling method was purposeful and the data were collected using deep clinical interviews and evaluated using thematic analysis. Data analysis showed that 3 inclusive themes: "oneself" theme with two subcategories of self-worth (including insufficiency, competence, and sufficiency) and, the role of oneself (including undue responsibility, role confusion), “other one” theme with two subcategories of the position of another one (including passivity and irresponsibility of father, active mother, absent parents, supportive others) and schema of another one (including comparison, mastery increase, anxious parents, aggressive parents, abusive parents, and unstable parents), and “relationship” theme with two subcategories of emotional survival (including unfriendly interactive relationship, a sense of distance and neglected, sense of abandonment and loneliness) and cognitive survival (including sense of obedience, worthlessness, and controlled increase). The obtained patterns are based on psychodynamic theories and object relations. According to the findings, the pathology of relationships between couples is based on the relationships that are associated with first caregivers in their childhood.