Object relations theory as a means to understand the formation and development of drug addiction in Requiem for a dream by Hubert Selby Jr

Hubert Selby Jr.’s Requiem for a Dream (1987) offers a vivid depiction of the catastrophic consequences of drug addiction. This analysis explains the formation and progression of the characters' addiction through the perspective of object relations theory. Drawing on Donald Winnicott's and Ronald Fairbairn's principles, object relations theory investigates how early relational experiences shape self-identity and emotional development. When these early experiences are marked by negative internalizations, addiction can form as a maladaptive coping mechanism for unmet emotional needs. In this framework, substances become distorted “objects” that temporarily alleviate psychological pain. This research examines how the characters' addiction is formed, tracing this pattern back to their early negative internalizations, which foster the creation of the “false self” reliant on drugs for emotional regulation. This dependence, then, develops into compulsive drug-seeking behaviors. This can show that addiction is not merely a physical dependency but a profound emotional and relational crisis, driven by distorted attachment patterns. And so, by connecting object relations theory with representations of addiction in literature, the research offers a fresh perspective, proposing that addiction can develop from a breakdown in object relations, where substances take the place of genuine emotional connections, ultimately eroding the characters' understanding of their true selves.