Degree Date
1978
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Social Work and Social Research
Abstract
This research attempted to clarify and test a theory of the borderline/ narcissistic personality. This particular personality type has recently received a great deal of attention by practitioners. A literature review was done to identify major points in the theory, and a formulation geared towards the needs of social work practitioners was developed.
A rating scheme cujodying the theoretical formulation was applied. There were thirty-six out-patient subjects from three clinics and three private therapists. One to four taped sessions per subject were rated by independent judges based on the rating scheme developed out of theory. Independent diagnosticians placed subjects in diagnostic categories; these were compared with the scores based on the rating scheme.
The findings, discriminating levels on a continuum of mental health, support the hypothesis of a self /social matrix with two axes, consisting of differentiation and self/social focus. Borderline/narcissistic individuals can be distinguished on the basis of their poor ability to differentiate the self from others and their relatively uncoordinated focus on the self and on others. There may be patterns of self/social focus characteristic of the borderline/narcissistic personality.
Citation
Carrilio, Terry Eisenberg, "Placement of the Borderline/Narcissistic Personality on a Continuum of Mental Health," Ph.D. diss., Bryn Mawr College, 1978.