Schizoid Phenomena, Object Relations and the Self

by Harry Guntrip

Based on a series of clinical studies of schizoid problems, this book is a sequel to Harry Guntrip's theoretical study of the emergence of the schizoid problem, Personality Structure and Human Interaction (1961). It includes revised versions of earlier papers, and also much original material.

Genres: Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction

410 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely important seminal work on object-relations theory as it applies to people on the schizoid continuum. Guntrip lays out how the persecuted ego splits off and seeks refuge from a parent who is both abandoning and enveloping. It was a revelation to me. I now understand how and why I am the way I am.

[emre]

şizoid kişilik örüntüsüne dair iyi, derli toplu bir kaynak olduğunu söyleyebilirim. guntrip kitabın yarısında -winnicott'ın bazı önermelerini tartıştıktan sonra- neyden bahsettiğini unutmuş gibi psikanaliz tarihi anlatmaya girişmese daha iyi olabilirdi diye düşünüyorum.

[Riley Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading this I thought Harry Guntrip (coolest name ever?) is too long-winded, since he approaches the same thing from so many directions. But this book is very didactic with great case material framed by concepts of Klein/Winnicott/Fairbairn. Here's my summary:

The main idea here is that neurosis, depression, etc are epiphenomenon arising from a more fundamental schizoid core. It sounds exotic but shapes the ego experience of most (all?) humans. The depressive diagnosis ("Man's greatest and most consistent self-deception") has people fixing attention on their badness instead of their weakness; given the natural preference to feel strong, there are many barriers to bringing ego-weakness to conscious thought.

Basic ego-weakness leads to reactive behavior that lie open on the surface for all to see. Detachment, obsessional self-mastery, unselfish servicableness to others. We find security by projecting comforting images on the universe. The scientific materialist's "Iron-chain-of-necessity", or the religious believer's father-image.

Since ancient Greece, antisocial instincts have been diagnosed as epidemic in human nature. We convincingly rationalize a more alarming fear, a "flight from life at deep mental levels" induced by failure of ego formation, and an inadequacy (felt or factual) in coping with life. Libidinal and anti-libidinal drives react differently in the face of an uncaring and scary outside world, and the patterns of the central ego forms in an adversarial reaction.

No-one can avoid it, so personalities are rife with rationalized self-assertiveness, subtle exhibitionism, disguised boasting, competitiveness/avoidance of competition, need of praise/reassurance/approval, and safety-first security seeking. The therapeautic process is to relax mental fortifications and make room for a real person among the "collection of reactions to impingements".

Anyways, of the analysts I've read so far, I think I'd most like to have a beer with Guntrip!

[Pınar Aşcı · Rating 5 out of 5]

satır aralarında kaybolduğum, neredeyse her cümlesini severek okuduğum kitap..

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everybody who is interested in object theory read the classic books like this. Actually there are not too many of them, and at the time I read a bunch and was disappointed that there weren’t more modern books on the subject. But I guess this is sort of a more old-fashioned theory and not used much today. I do think it’s really helpful to understand schizoid personality re Object relations, but that is not the whole story of course. Still I found this book pretty enlightening.

[Warren Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in how the 'self' is formed, you MUST read this book.

[Kübra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Müthiş.

[Uğur · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many different theories put forward about object relations in the department of Psychology. One of them is the schizoid personality theory put forward by Guntrip. It is considered a theory, but it is actually more than a theory now. Because it contains proven findings. In any case, this book has also been prepared in the light of the data obtained as a result of examinations and research conducted on patients.

Guntrip started his research with a philosophical step and asked 'what happens to me when we run away from objects (people)? acting from his question, he reveals the schizoid personality. In the book, Freud takes him as a source as well as his criticisms. The author who has discussed regression as the most important indicator of schizoid personality disorder. Regression is the return of the individual to the stage before the development period due to the traumas experienced in later periods. This is like staying in the fetal position in body language. A person who cannot achieve the feelings, desires and goals he needs from object relationships closes himself in and stays in what he perceives as a safe space. Is this death, the way of life? Guntrip stands on this.

Guntrip criticizes this situation, Freud's oedipus complex, acts by putting it in its place, and also connects it to the economic and political situation inference. At this point, I obviously associated it with the schizoanalysis of Deleuze and Guattari. Because there he also says that oedipus is nothing more than the definition of a predicament and that it has been replaced by the consequences caused by the traumas created by the political and economic world. Guntrip has also given a name to this new trauma.

What about you? Are you schizoid?

1-Introversion
2-Regression
3-Narcissism
4-Self-sufficiency
5-A sense of superiority
6-Loss of affect
7-Loneliness
8-Self-alienation

Let me end the review with a question;

Do your impulses determine you, or do relationships determine your self? challenge yourself.

[أحمد · Rating 4 out of 5]

فرويد كان يري مرضي الفصام غير قابلين للتحليل النفسي والعلاج. حيث انهم حبيسي انفسهم لا يكشفون اي شيء حقيقي عن ذاتهم قد يسمح لهم بالتعافي.
جنترب كان له رأي مختلف
من خلال هذا العمل عرض جنترب كيف يكون شعور الشخصية الفصامية، مخاوفه وأوهامه ودورة الحركة بين النهم الشديد للحب والإنزواء الشديد والإختفاء والرغبة للعودة مرة أخري للرحم كمكان آمن لا يمكن لأحد إيذاءه فيه.

ينتقد جنترب فكرة فرويد الخاصة بالصراع النفسي بين الدوافع والدفاعات النفسية ويطرح طرقا للتعامل مع حالات المرض النفسي الفصامية مثل احتواء المريض والتعاطف معه وتفهم مخاوفه والسماح بالثقة ان تنمو وتؤدي لمسار جديد في الشفاء

انا شخصيا لم افهم الطبيعة الفصامية الا من خلال قراءة هذا العمل

اسلوب جنترب بسيط وسهل وهو ملم جيدا بكتابة من سبقوه ولكنه يعرض افكارهم بطريقة ابسط منهم

كأسلوب للعلاج اعتقد انه بشكل عملي من الصعب الدخول مع المريض في نوع العلاقة التي يقترحها جنترب. توجد خطورة علي المريض وخاصة لو كان يفكر في الانتحار

بالنسبة للنظرية هي نوع من دمج التحليل النفسي مع الطرق الوجودية. ربما تحمل روح العصر في الستينات. لكن الإضاءات التي يلقيها هذا العمل تنير الكثير من الأفكار

استمتعت بقراءته واعجبني اسلوب جنترب

[Hilal Yavuz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitap psikoterapistler için yazılmış olsa da, şizoid karakterlerin kendi hissettiklerini, olayları yorumlama biçimlerini anlamlandırabilmesi açısından oldukça faydalı bence.

[Yasmeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply personal and life changing book.

[Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was helpful and then it dug so deep it kind of got unhelpful again. Certainly fascinating to learn about though.

[Jonathan Ridenour]

Actually, just picked up Psychoanalytic Theory, Therpay, and the Self: A basic guide to the human personality in Freud, Erikson, Klein, Sullivan, Fairbairn, Hartmann, Jacobson, & Winnicott