Self Psychology: A New Perspective for Understanding and Preventing/Treating Depression

From the theoretical perspective of self psychology, this paper explores the onset, prevention, and new treatment pathways for depression. In terms of etiology, depression originates from a fragile and defective self-structure formed due to unmet early narcissistic needs. In prevention, as a critical "selfobject" environment, the family contributes to the formation of an integrated and cohesive self through caregivers' empathic responsiveness, positive parent-child interactions, and appropriate delayed gratification. In treatment, therapists should activate clients' selfobject transference based on a healthy therapeutic relationship, repairing their self-deficits to enhance their sense of self. Self psychology provides a more humanistic perspective for understanding, preventing, and treating depression. Future research could strengthen systematic studies under this model to further improve the efficacy of depression prevention and treatment.