Splitting (psychology)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Splitting (also called black and white thinking or all-or-nothing thinking) is the failure in a person's thinking to bring together both positive and negative qualities of the self and others into a cohesive, realistic whole. It is a common defense mechanism used by many people.[1] The individual tends to think in extremes (i.e., an individual's actions and motivations are all good or all bad with no middle ground).
The concept of splitting was developed by Ronald Fairbairn in his formulation of object relations theory;[2] it begins as the inability of the infant to combine the fulfilling aspects of the parents (the good object) and their unresponsive aspects (the unsatisfying object) into the same individuals, but sees the good and bad as separate. In psychoanalytic theory this functions as a defence mechanism.[3] It is a relatively common defence mechanism for people with borderline personality disorder in DSM-IV-TR.
Contents [hide]
1 Relationships
2 Borderline personality disorder
3 Narcissistic personality disorder
4 Janet and Freud
5 Melanie Klein
6 Otto Kernberg
7 Splitting, horizontal and vertical
8 Transference
9 See also
10 References
Relationships[edit]
Splitting creates instability in relationships because one person can be viewed as either personified virtue or personified vice at different times, depending on whether they gratify the subject's needs or frustrate them. This, along with similar oscillations in the experience and appraisal of the self, leads to chaotic and unstable relationship patterns, identity diffusion, and mood swings. The therapeutic process can be greatly impeded by these oscillations, because the therapist too can come to be seen as all good or all bad. To attempt to overcome the negative effects on treatment outcome, constant interpretations by the therapist are needed.[4]
Splitting contributes to unstable relationships and intense emotional experiences. Splitting is not uncommon during adolescence, but is regarded as transient. Splitting has been noted especially with persons diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.[5][6] Treatment strategies have been developed for individuals and groups based on dialectical behavior therapy, and for couples.[7] There are also self-help books on related topics such as mindfulness and emotional regulation that have been helpful for individuals who struggle with the consequences of splitting.[8]
Borderline personality disorder[edit]
Main article: Borderline personality disorder
Splitting is a relatively common defence mechanism for people with borderline personality disorder.[6] One of the DSM IV-TR criteria for this disorder is a description of splitting: "a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation".[9][10] In psychoanalytic theory, people with borderline personality disorder are not able to integrate the good and bad images of both self and others, resulting in a bad representation which dominates the good representation.[11] This school hypothesizes that they consequently experience love and sexuality in perverse and violent qualities which they cannot integrate with the tender, intimate side of relationships.[12]
Narcissistic personality disorder[edit]
Main article: Narcissistic personality disorder
People matching the diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder also use splitting as a central defence mechanism. Most often the narcissist does this as an attempt to stabilize their sense of self positivity in order to preserve their self-esteem, by perceiving themselves as purely upright or admirable and others who do not conform to their will or values as purely wicked or contemptible. Given "the narcissist's perverse sense of entitlement and splitting ... [s]he can be equally geared, psychologically and practically, towards the promotion and towards the demise of a certain collectively beneficial project".[13]
The cognitive habit of splitting also implies the use of other related defence mechanisms, namely idealization and devaluation, which are preventative attitudes or reactions to narcissistic rage and narcissistic injury.[11]
Janet and Freud[edit]
Main articles: Pierre Janet and Sigmund Freud
Splitting of consciousness (German: Spaltung )[14] was first described by Pierre Janet in L'Automatisme psychologique. His ideas were extended by Freud and Breuer,[15] to explain splits in consciousness, not (with Janet) as the product of innate weakness, but as the result of inner conflict.[16] With the development of the idea of repression, splitting moved to the background of Freud's thought for some years, being largely reserved for cases of double personality.[17] However his late work saw a renewed interest in how it was "possible for the ego to avoid a rupture ... by effecting a cleavage or division of itself",[18] a theme which was extended in his Ou
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Splitting (also called black and white thinking or all-or-nothing thinking) is the failure in a person's thinking to bring together both positive and negative qualities of the self and others into a cohesive, realistic whole. It is a common defense mechanism used by many people.[1] The individual tends to think in extremes (i.e., an individual's actions and motivations are all good or all bad with no middle ground).
The concept of splitting was developed by Ronald Fairbairn in his formulation of object relations theory;[2] it begins as the inability of the infant to combine the fulfilling aspects of the parents (the good object) and their unresponsive aspects (the unsatisfying object) into the same individuals, but sees the good and bad as separate. In psychoanalytic theory this functions as a defence mechanism.[3] It is a relatively common defence mechanism for people with borderline personality disorder in DSM-IV-TR.
Contents [hide]
1 Relationships
2 Borderline personality disorder
3 Narcissistic personality disorder
4 Janet and Freud
5 Melanie Klein
6 Otto Kernberg
7 Splitting, horizontal and vertical
8 Transference
9 See also
10 References
Relationships[edit]
Splitting creates instability in relationships because one person can be viewed as either personified virtue or personified vice at different times, depending on whether they gratify the subject's needs or frustrate them. This, along with similar oscillations in the experience and appraisal of the self, leads to chaotic and unstable relationship patterns, identity diffusion, and mood swings. The therapeutic process can be greatly impeded by these oscillations, because the therapist too can come to be seen as all good or all bad. To attempt to overcome the negative effects on treatment outcome, constant interpretations by the therapist are needed.[4]
Splitting contributes to unstable relationships and intense emotional experiences. Splitting is not uncommon during adolescence, but is regarded as transient. Splitting has been noted especially with persons diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.[5][6] Treatment strategies have been developed for individuals and groups based on dialectical behavior therapy, and for couples.[7] There are also self-help books on related topics such as mindfulness and emotional regulation that have been helpful for individuals who struggle with the consequences of splitting.[8]
Borderline personality disorder[edit]
Main article: Borderline personality disorder
Splitting is a relatively common defence mechanism for people with borderline personality disorder.[6] One of the DSM IV-TR criteria for this disorder is a description of splitting: "a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation".[9][10] In psychoanalytic theory, people with borderline personality disorder are not able to integrate the good and bad images of both self and others, resulting in a bad representation which dominates the good representation.[11] This school hypothesizes that they consequently experience love and sexuality in perverse and violent qualities which they cannot integrate with the tender, intimate side of relationships.[12]
Narcissistic personality disorder[edit]
Main article: Narcissistic personality disorder
People matching the diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder also use splitting as a central defence mechanism. Most often the narcissist does this as an attempt to stabilize their sense of self positivity in order to preserve their self-esteem, by perceiving themselves as purely upright or admirable and others who do not conform to their will or values as purely wicked or contemptible. Given "the narcissist's perverse sense of entitlement and splitting ... [s]he can be equally geared, psychologically and practically, towards the promotion and towards the demise of a certain collectively beneficial project".[13]
The cognitive habit of splitting also implies the use of other related defence mechanisms, namely idealization and devaluation, which are preventative attitudes or reactions to narcissistic rage and narcissistic injury.[11]
Janet and Freud[edit]
Main articles: Pierre Janet and Sigmund Freud
Splitting of consciousness (German: Spaltung )[14] was first described by Pierre Janet in L'Automatisme psychologique. His ideas were extended by Freud and Breuer,[15] to explain splits in consciousness, not (with Janet) as the product of innate weakness, but as the result of inner conflict.[16] With the development of the idea of repression, splitting moved to the background of Freud's thought for some years, being largely reserved for cases of double personality.[17] However his late work saw a renewed interest in how it was "possible for the ego to avoid a rupture ... by effecting a cleavage or division of itself",[18] a theme which was extended in his Ou
Vastaukset 3
Vanhimmat
Niin, yrität sanoa jotain ikävään liittyvää?
Kyllä splittaus näkyy täällä palstalla paljonkin. Narsistista pers. häiriöönkin liittyy. Mitä sitten?
Mä taidan tietää, mitä yrittää sanoa. Näin on.
Ok. En mä kyllä näe asioita kyllä ei laidasta laitaan. Mut pakko myöntää et näen useimmissa miehissä joitain mun mielestä käsittämättömiä piirteitä joita en arvostaisi naisissakaan. Näitä kun kehtaan moittia ihan ääneenkin niin voi joku joka oikeasti on splitting luulla minusta samaa. Se siitä.