A question of pathology: Attachment patterns, object relations, and a disorder of the self within the rock opera TOMMY

Abstract

This article observes the 50th anniversary of The Who with a psychodynamic analysis of their landmark rock opera Tommy. Applying object relations theory, attachment, and trauma research, the article casts the opera as an illustration of instinct and insecure attachments, exacerbated by childhood trauma, culminating in an adult relational style that suggests schizoid and narcissistic personality features. The article offers an overview of object relations theory, attachment patterns, pertinent object relations units, serving as a potential teaching tool in keeping with the tradition of bibliotherapy, or its derivative discipline, cinematherapy. The article pays particular attention to the influence of distorted parent/child communication in the development of pathology.