Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Practice Exam

The focus of self-psychology, developed by Heinz Kohut, emphasizes the role of specific psychological needs that are essential for healthy development and the formation of the self. In this context, the need for biological care, while fundamentally important in a general sense for survival (such as food, shelter, and safety), is not the primary concern of self-psychology.

Self-psychology identifies four primary needs related to development and self-esteem: mirroring, twinship, idealizing, and the need for a sense of a cohesive self.

- **Mirroring** refers to the need for caregivers to reflect back to the child their sense of self-worth and identity, validating their emotions and experiences.

- **Twinship** involves the need for connection and acceptance, fostering a sense of belonging and mirroring in peer relationships.

- **Idealizing** is the need for the child to have a figure that they can look up to, providing a sense of support and guidance.

Though biological needs are critical for survival, they do not directly pertain to the psychological development of self, which self-psychology emphasizes. The psychological needs are essential for emotional and mental well-being and for forming a stable sense of identity, rather than merely addressing physical needs