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In this article, I have reviewed Winnicott’s notion of the transitional object, and the concept of primary and secondary transitional objects. Primary transitional objects, which represent parent-infant interactions, facilitate the infant’s transition from early differentiated, bodily and global experiences of being real and alive to the infant’s yoking and extending these subjective organizations to recognized not-me objects. Secondary transitional objects make their appearance when the child begins to acquire the capacity for self-reflexivity, symbolization, and language. These objects provide the child with opportunities to gain confidence and courage in extending, yoking, and making use of the subjective experiences of being alive and real in relation to cultural symbols and rituals. More importantly, secondary transitional objects are paths toward mutual recognition, acceptance and sharing of being alive and real. Finally, clinical application of the concepts of primary and secondary transitional objects was carried out with clinical illustration.
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