Back to Table of Contents
enraged, and/or suffering self representation (Kernberg, 2004). Separate internalization of all good and all bad object relations leads to an intrapsychic structure characterized by primitive mechanisms of dissociation or splitting, and the derived mechanisms of projective identification, primitive idealization and devaluation, omnipotence and omnipotent control, and denial. Concomitantly, under conditions of low affect states, early cognitive development proceeds driven by nonspecific instinctive “seeking” impulses (Wright and Panksepp, 2014) to learning about reality. This leads to early concept-formation and understanding of the surrounding animate and inanimate external world, which is developing in parallel with the emotional experiences of peak affective states, internally regulated by splitting and dissociative mechanisms. In these early circumstances, it is assumed that neither an integrated sense of self nor an integrated view of others yet exists. The representations of self and others would be split and/or dissociated into idealized and/or persecutory partial self-object representations, according to the associated peak affect state. Such development corresponds roughly to the Pre-Oedipal, Pre-Object Constancy era (Mahler et al., 1975); and the ‘paranoid-schizoid position’ (Klein, 1952a, b). Psychopathology on this level – a borderline personality disorder - reflects the lack of achievement of the integration of ego identity, typical for the syndrome of identity diffusion. The predominant primitive defensive operations centering around splitting, and certain limitations in reality testing apparent in subtle aspects of interpersonal functioning characterize this level of development and - if fixated on this level - a pathology of severe (bordeline) personality disorder. The intrapsychic conflicts on this level of pathology would be between two opposing units of sets of internalized object relations, whereby each unit consists of self and object representation under the impact of a drive derivative (clinically manifested as affect disposition). At the second level of development, gradually emerging over the first three years of life, the progressive realistic comprehension of the surrounding world, and the predominance of good (gratifying) over bad (frustrating) experiences, facilitates the gradual integration of contrary emotional experiences. The tolerance of ambivalence, of combined positive and negative emotional relations with the same external objects, gradually leads to an integrated sense of self and the capacity for an integrated view of signifiant others, the two essential components of ego identity. This second level of development coresponds roughly to Klein’s “depressive position” (without its truncated time-table), and to reaching the Oedipal development in Freud’s formulation. It signals achievement of object constancy, development of a normal neurotic level of organization, and predominance of higher level defenses centering around repression and its related mechanisms, including higher level projection, negation, intellectualization, and reaction formation. This higher level of personality organization is also importantly reflected in internal structuralization: clear delimitation of a repressed, dynamic unconscious – an “Id” – constituted by unacceptable internalized dyadic relationships reflecting intolerable primitive aggression and aspects of infantile sexuality. The “Ego” now includes the integrated coherent
587
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online