"The Borderline individual relates to people as parts, positive and negative, rather than as a whole, and is unable to establish a single unified reality concept of self and other.
The split object relations unit is also accompanied by a developmental arrest of the ego, resulting in poor reality perception, low frustration tolerance, poor impulse control and inadequate ego boundaries. Primitive ego defence mechanisms are present, and include splitting, acting out, clinging, avoidance, denial, projection and projective identification.
Abandonment Depression
The abandonment depression of the Borderline individual is composed of affects of homicidal rage, suicidal depression, panic, hopelessness and helplessness, emptiness and void, and guilt. It is always an underlying threat and is kept at bay by clinging and foregoing self activation in exchange for superfically feeling good. As a result, the Borderline individual develops a deflated false self, which is based on both a fantasy that people provide support for clinging and avoidance of self activation, and a bad self image of weakness and insecurity. He or she may act out to obtain instant gratification, feel good, and avoid the affects of abandonment depression through excessive work, substance abuse and sex and/or instant relationships.
Masterson,J.F, Lieberman, A. (2000). A therapist's guide to personality disorders: A handbook and workbook. Zeig, Tucker and Theisen: AZ |
