Yes, relational ontology is a key assumption underlying relational psychoanalysis. Relational ontology refers to the idea that our understanding of ourselves and the world is shaped by our relationships with others, rather than existing independently of them. This perspective emphasizes the importance of considering the relational context of our experiences, including how they are influenced by cultural, social, and historical factors.
Relational psychoanalysis, which emerged in the 1980s, built upon this ontology by emphasizing the importance of the therapeutic relationship in the psychoanalytic process. Relational psychoanalysts view the therapeutic relationship as a co-constructed, intersubjective experience, in which both the patient and analyst contribute to the meaning-making process.
In summary, relational ontology is a philosophical framework that underlies relational psychoanalysis, which emphasizes the importance of considering the relational context of our experiences and the role of the therapeutic relationship in the psychoanalytic process.
