Among post-Freudian psychoanalytic theorists, Heinz Kohut ranks as one of the most significant. The theoretical framework he propounded--now widely referred to as "self psychology"--represents a far-reaching reconceptualization of the underpinnings of psychoanalytic theory and practice. The purpose of this essay is to provide a general introduction to the concepts and methods of self psychology, as these have been elaborated by Kohut and his followers.

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