Donald Winnicott's "object relations" theory deals with a person's initial relationships and how they influence the formation of personality and self-identity. These relationships form the basis of personal development and resonate throughout the years. Childhood dolls, for example, are seen as a bridge to the past and even a tangible symbol of who we were. Children tend to choose dolls with which they identify - due to external characteristics or similar experiences, and this sense of identification continues into adulthood.
