What concept is central to Kohut's theories of self psychology?

Kohut's theories of self psychology are fundamentally centered around the idea of parental mirroring and empathic responsiveness, which is crucial for the development of a coherent and healthy sense of self in children. He proposed that a child's self-esteem and self-identity are significantly influenced by their early interactions with caregivers, particularly how well those caregivers reflect the child's needs and emotions back to them.

In self psychology, mirroring refers to the caregiver’s ability to acknowledge and validate the child's feelings and experiences. Empathic responsiveness goes beyond mere acknowledgment; it involves understanding and being attuned to the child's emotional state. When children experience appropriate mirroring and empathic responses, they feel seen and understood, fostering a sense of self that is stable and resilient. If these needs are unmet, children may struggle with feelings of inadequacy and fragmentation, which can lead to various psychological issues later in life.

While the other concepts mentioned in the options are relevant to different psychological theories, they do not encompass the essence of Kohut's framework as vividly as the importance of parental mirroring and empathic responsiveness does. The Oedipal conflict relates to Freud's theories of psychosexual development, the notion of the good enough mother primarily stems from Winnicott’s work in object relations