A structural–developmental psychodynamic approach to psychopathology: Two polarities of experience across the life span

Abstract

Consistent with principles of developmental psychopathology, this paper presents a broad psychodynamic structural developmental perspective that establishes conceptual continuities between processes of normal personality development, personality organization, concepts of psychopathology, and processes of therapeutic change. The major assumption of this approach is that personality development proceeds in a dialectic synergistic interaction between the development of capacities for interpersonal relatedness and the development of self-definition or identity. Extensive research demonstrates that these two dimensions define two broad types of personality organization, each with a particular experiential mode; preferred forms of cognition, defense, and adaptation; unique qualities of interpersonal relatedness and specific types of object and self-representation. Severe disruptions of this normal dialectic developmental process result in various forms of psychopathology organized in two basic configurations in which there is distorted defensive preoccupation, at different developmental levels, with one of these polarities (relatedness or self-definition) at the expense of the development of the other dimension. This paper reviews empirical findings supporting this approach to normal and disrupted personality development throughout the life cycle and considers its relationship to the internalizing-externalizing distinction in childhood and adolescence, attachment theory, and research on the interaction between biological and psychosocial factors in development across the life span. Finally, we discuss the implications of this approach for intervention and prevention.

Cognitive–behavioural therapy and short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy versus brief psychosocial intervention in adolescents with unipolar major depression (IMPACT): a multicentre, pragmatic, observer-blind, randomised controlled trial

“…97 One factor, which may be termed dependent/relatedness is elevated by disruptions to rewarding affiliative interpersonal relationships. This is expressed primarily in dysphoric feelings following experiences characterised by personal loss, abandonment and being alone.…”

Self-critical perfectionism and binge eating symptoms: A longitudinal test of the intervening role of psychological need frustration.

“…Because of their PERFECTIONISM AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED FRUSTRATION 9 competitive attitude, perfectionists are more likely to see others as opponents and to display a dominant and hostile attitude, for instance, by feeling superior and looking down on others (Habke & Flynn, 2002). Further, due to their strong focus on self-definition, SC perfectionists tend to neglect the importance of interpersonal relations, leading to a distortion of the quality of interpersonal experiences (Blatt, 2008;Blatt & Luyten, 2009). …”

« Je ne vaux rien » et autres formes d’auto-critique : état des lieux et interventions thérapeutiques

“…Gilbert et Procter (2006) la considèrent d'ailleurs comme un concept transdiagnostic, augmentant la vulnérabilité, l'expression des symptômes et les risques de rechute. (Blatt et Luyten, 2009). Deuxièmement, l'auto-critique joue effectivement un rôle modérateur sur la relation entre insécurité émotionnelle et affect négatif en augmentant le niveau de celui-ci, tandis que la dépendance joue ce même rôle sur la relation entre sentiment d'infériorité perçue et affect négatif, expliquant par là une part de l'hétérogénéité des réactions émo-tionnelles des patients borderline dans différents types de situations.…”