Psychodynamic Model

The psychodynamic model helps us understand how the personality structure is organised in Borderline Personality Disorder and why certain symptoms develop.

Background Knowledge

To understand this model, it is helpful to be familiar with the basics of psychoanalytic personality theory (Ego, Id, Superego).

The Ego Structure in Borderline

Imagine the Ego as a complex, coherent entity – the personality. This Ego develops slowly over the years, and for this to happen, it needs the right opportunities through the mother, father, caregivers, and the social environment.

In healthy development:

• A complex entity of the Ego forms
• Comparable to a spirit level that is in balance
• The Ego is stable and integrated

In Borderline Personality Disorder:

• The Ego does not get the chance to fully develop
• Only fragments (pieces) are formed
• These fragments are not connected (no complex entity)
• The “spirit level” is out of balance

The Self and Its Components

The Self is defined through the Ego. When the Ego is out of balance, the Self also tips over.

The Self includes:

1. Self-image – How do I see myself?
2. Self-awareness – Who am I?
3. Self-esteem – What am I worth to myself and to others?
4. The social self – This is compared with the external image (how do others see me?) and in turn with self-image and self-esteem

This complex of the Self is compared with the Ego Ideal and Ideal Self (a pillar of the Superego). The difference is called ego discrepancy.

In Borderline

When the Ego has tipped and the Self is “in the basement,” the ego discrepancy grows enormously. This explains why affected individuals perceive themselves so negatively during the devaluation phase.

The Id

The Id contains the drives and impulses of the human being – powerful energies that move us to act.

The Superego

The Superego can be illustrated using a three-pillar principle:

Pillar 1: The Conscience

• Mature conscience
• Oedipal conscience (shaped by the parental imago and role models)
• Archaic conscience

Pillar 2: Ego Ideal and Ideal Objects

• How do I want to be?
• Role models and guiding figures (later attachment figures)
• Parental imago (primal image of the parents)

Pillar 3: Ideal Self

• Grandiose fantasies (shaped by parental imago and role models)
• Archaic grandiose self

Within the Superego, there is a constant comparison between the Ideal Self (3rd pillar) and the Ego Ideal/Ideal Objects (2nd pillar).

The Inner Conflict

Impulses from the Id push upward against the Ego (e.g. “I want…”). The Ego would be defencelessly exposed to this, were it not for the Superego, which also places demands on the Ego.

In figurative terms:

Imagine standing between two railway carriages. Both are hurtling toward you from each side without brakes. What can you do?

Defence Mechanisms

The psyche has developed protective mechanisms (Ego defence mechanisms). These sit between the Id (from below) and the Superego (from above) as a buffer zone.

In a healthy person:

• Functional defence mechanisms develop over time
• These protect the Ego from the impacting energies

In Borderline

The person with Borderline has not sufficiently developed these protective mechanisms. Only two options remain:

1. Collapse: The “carriages crash together” – the Ego fragments fly apart
2. Dissociation: Leaving the Self (“This isn’t happening to me, that’s someone else, that’s not me”)

This explains why affected individuals:

• Are prone to dissociative states
• Literally “fall apart” under stress
• Use primitive defence mechanisms such as splitting

Therapeutic Implications

Understanding this model has important consequences for therapy:

• Structural development: Therapy must help build and integrate Ego structures
• Affect regulation: Learning to manage the energies of the Id
• Realistic self-image: Reducing the ego discrepancy
• New defence mechanisms: Developing more mature defence mechanisms

Further Information

Splitting The central primitive defence mechanism

The Ego More on ego identity

Therapy Options Treatment possibilities