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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... | 30000010162790 | RC554 S54 2007 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
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Summary
Summary
In this thought-provoking book, Marshall L. Silverstein applies a self psychological viewpoint, as formulated and broadened by Kohut, to understanding the personality disorders designated on Axis II of the DSM-IV. He recasts the disorders as disorders of the self, grouping them into one of three patterns: those that center on combating devitalization, forestalling fragmentation, or seeking alternative pathways to a cohesive self. For each group, he outlines the descriptive psychopathology and main theoretical viewpoints and then presents a self psychological reformulation of how the behavior and symptom patterns represent deficits in self-cohesion. The author's aim is to demonstrate how psychoanalytic self psychology, as originally developed by Heinz Kohut and further elaborated by colleagues, can explain personality disorders. He addresses both theoretical and clinical aspects of what are characterized as disturbances of the self.
Author Notes
Silverstein - Long Island University
Reviews 1
Choice Review
Silverstein adds another important volume to the "Personality-Guided Psychology" series. Two facets to this new framework will be especially valuable. The first is the focus on personality disorders as disorders of the self. Unlike those who take traditional views that focus on the difficulties such disorders create in relationships with others, Silverstein suggests that personality disorders can be seen as efforts to create and maintain self; thus, symptoms of the disorders can be seen as reflecting the primary goals of self being sought by the disordered individual. The second invaluable aspect of this book is its emphasis on three patterns in disorders of the self: combating devitalization, forestalling fragmentation, and seeking alternative pathways to a cohesive self. This functional typology provides a method for understanding the motivations behind the disorders, along with insights into how these disorders manifest in daily dysfunction. By categorizing personality disorders in this way, Silverstein provides a framework that makes sense and provides guidance for effective therapy. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through faculty and professionals. R. E. Osborne Texas State University--San Marcos
