The Metaphor of the Manic-Depressive<sup>†</sup>

Smith, Joseph H.

doi:10.1080/00332747.1960.11023238

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Smith 7 has discussed the manner in which manic-depressive patients use conventionality in their communications. In interactions with others, the manic individual touches on needs to conform to social rules and to a pedestrian form of commonsense logic.…”

Section: Manipulation Of the Self-esteem Of Othersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Playing the Manic Game

Janowsky¹

1970

Arch Gen Psychiatry

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The acutely manic patient, with his ability to create interpersonal havoc with family and therapist alike, can be one of the most challenging, taxing, and difficult of patients. It is our purpose to describe the character structure of the acutely manic patient, to define his patterns of interaction and communication, and to emphasize the impact these qualities have upon those around him.While previous studies have described the intrapsychic dynamics, pathogenesis, and character structure of patients suffering from manic-depressive psychoses, 1-5 the fashion with which the acutely manic patient deals with others, and the impact this has on them, has received sparse attention. Dooley 1 described patients with frequent manic attacks as being headstrong, selfsufficient, know-it-all types of people who will get the upper hand of the analyst. Gibson 2 noted that while manic-depressive individuals appear remarkably insensitive to interpersonal subtleties on a conscious level, they can be extraordinarily perceptive on a subconscious or unconscious one. He felt that these patients are proficient in evoking and utilizing the feelings of others, especially guilt feelings, and that they are extraordinarily adroit at handling and manipulating other people. Four characteristics Gibson stressed regarding the manic-depressive character structure included: (1) difficulty in dealing with feelings of envy and competition; (2) strong dependancy drives; (3) the frequent use of denial as a defense; and (4) a value system based on social conventionality.Fromm-Reichmann 3 described manic-depressive patients as being more clever and successful in finding vulnerable spots than are the people who are targets of their hostility. She stressed their ability to become immediately acquainted with anyone they meet, establishing quick, superficial, contacts which are not accompanied by a genuine interest.Cohen et al 4 reviewed the psychoanalytic literature concerning manic-depressive patients. They summarized Abraham's ideas on the characterological features of manic-depressive patients as including impatience, envy, increased egocentricity, and intense ambivalence. Cohen et al further described hypomanic patients as being conventional-minded, independent, and possessing a certain social facility. They felt that a hypomanic's appearance of closeness is provided by his liveliness, talkativeness, wittiness, and social aggressiveness. They emphasized that, on close observation, the hypomanic can be seen to be carrying out a relatively stereotyped social performance, taking little account of the other person's traits and ____________________________________________________________________________________

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Section: Manipulation Of the Self-esteem Of Othersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Playing the Manic Game

Janowsky¹

1970

Arch Gen Psychiatry

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“…Also, Rosenthal (65), in a study on identity confusion in twins, refers to the double bind concept as one of the patterns of mother‐child relationship leading to this confusion. Clausen and Kohn (21), Rioch (63), Meyers and Goldfarb (55), Goldfarb (38), Varley (85), and Spiegel and Bell (78) concur in the specificity of the double bind situation in the families of schizophrenics.…”

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confidence: 99%