Psychodynamic Model - Borderline

Prerequisite

Before studying this model, please first read the psychodynamic model of the healthy personality. This is necessary to understand the model of the borderline personality.

The EGO Structure in Borderline

Imagine the “EGO” as a complex, coherent unit - the personality. This EGO develops slowly over the years, and it naturally needs a chance to do so. This chance is provided by mother, father, caregivers and social environment.

If the EGO does not get the chance to develop, only fragments (broken pieces) can form, which are disconnected and do not create a complex unit.

The Spirit Level Analogy

Imagine (for a healthy person) a complete, whole spirit level that is perfectly balanced:

• The EGO would be exactly horizontal
• The Self is defined through the EGO
• If the EGO is balanced, the Self is also balanced
• If the EGO tips, the Self tips too

The Self in Borderline

If the EGO is tilted (the spirit level hangs crooked) and the Self has sunk to the basement, the ego discrepancy increases. In plain terms: The Self is in terrible shape - just as the person with borderline sees and perceives themselves during devaluation.

The Self - A Reminder

The Self encompasses:

1. Self-image - How do I see myself?
2. Self-awareness - Who am I?
3. Self-esteem - What am I worth to myself and others?
4. Social self - Comparison with the external image

This complex of the Self is compared with a pillar of the SUPEREGO: the ego ideal and ideal self. The difference is called the ego discrepancy.

The Structure of ID, EGO and SUPEREGO

The ID

The ID contains the drives and impulses of a person. These are enormous energies that make us do what we do (want to) or should.

The SUPEREGO

The SUPEREGO consists of three pillars:

Pillar I: Conscience

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

Pillar II: Ego Ideal

• Ego ideal and ideal objects (who I want to be, role models)
• Role models (later caregivers)
• Parental imago (imago = primal image)

Pillar III: Ideal Self

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

Within the SUPEREGO, a constant comparison takes place between ideal self (Pillar III) and ego ideal / ideal objects (Pillar II).

The Problem in Borderline

Impulses from below crash against the EGO (e.g., “I want…”). The EGO would be defenseless against this were it not for the SUPEREGO, which demands unconditional fulfillment from the EGO.

A Visual Metaphor

Imagine you are standing between 2 railway wagons, both coming unbraked from each side toward you. What do you do? Jump? Sure you can, but you land on the next track and again the wagons roll. No, that doesn’t work either, because you are part of the unit.

Nature, the psyche, has built in protective mechanisms (defense mechanisms of the EGO) here. Without them, you would be torn apart, because both wagons crash into you unbraked.

What Is Missing in Borderline

The Crucial Difference

The person with borderline has not (or not sufficiently) developed these protective mechanisms. They have only two options:

1. The two wagons (ID and SUPEREGO) crash into them, and their EGO fragments fly everywhere

2. They step out of themselves and dissociate (“This isn’t happening to me, that’s someone else, that’s not me”)

The Fragmented EGO Structure

In borderline personality disorder:

• The EGO is not formed as a complex unit but consists of fragments
• These fragments are disconnected
• The defense mechanisms are primitive (mainly splitting rather than repression)
• The energies from ID and SUPEREGO collide without restraint

The Defense Mechanisms in Borderline

Over time, humans develop defense mechanisms. These protect the EGO. They sit between the ID from below and the SUPEREGO from above as a buffer zone. Without them, the EGO would be literally torn apart by the impacting energies.

Typical Defenses in Borderline

Splitting

The primary defense mechanism - the world is divided into only good or only bad, with no shades of gray.

Projection

One’s own unacceptable parts are projected onto others - the other person is then “bad.”

Dissociation

When the energies become too strong: splitting off from experience (“That’s not me”).

Regression

Falling back to earlier developmental stages with primitive reactions.

The Legend to the Model

EGO Structure

Symbol	Meaning
A1-3	Defense mechanisms of the EGO
B1	Force/energy from Pillars I and II of the SUPEREGO on the EGO
B2	Force/energy from Pillar II of the SUPEREGO on the EGO
B3	Force/energy from Pillar III of the SUPEREGO on the EGO
C	Defense energies that the EGO draws upon for the defense mechanisms (EGO drives)
A+C	Defensive action
D	Rigid connection with inversive joint (G) to the Self
E1-4	ID impulses, drive energies
G	Inversive joint (inversive = reversal)

Self Components

Symbol	Meaning
SB	Self-observation, introspection
S	Comparison of social self with Self and vice versa
SE	Self-knowledge
SF	External image transition into the social self
SS	Influence of social self on self-esteem
IS	Ego discrepancy, self-actualization, narcissistic balance
VI	Comparison ego ideal / ideal self versus ego ideal / ideal objects

SUPEREGO Structure

Symbol	Meaning
VI	Comparison ego ideal / ideal self versus ego ideal / ideal objects
U	Primal imprints, primal influences through the parental imago
B1	Total force from Pillars I and II on EGO fragments
B2	Total force from Pillar II on EGO fragments
B3	Total force from Pillar III on EGO fragments

The Self in Borderline

During Idealization

Inflated self-image - fused with the other person, the Self appears “high”

During Devaluation

Devastating self-image - the Self is “in the basement,” worthless, destroyed

The ego discrepancy fluctuates massively between these extremes - there are no stable shades of gray, no nuanced self-perception.

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Further Reading

• Psychodynamic Model - Healthy - The foundation
• After a Borderline Relationship - What happens to partners
• Splitting - The central defense mechanism
• What is Borderline? - Overview of the disorder