Borderline Attributions

Borderline personality disorder is characterized as an identity disturbance or pathology of the self-structure. The author employs concepts from deconstruction philosophy and object relations theory to explore how persons with borderline personality disorder attempt to generate meaning, eliminate ambiguity, and maintain idealizations by assigning polarized attributions of value, agency, and motivation to their experiences. The author proposes that these binary attributions interact to form multiple, discrete self structures or states of being. Each state is characterized by stereotyped expectations for self and other and patterns of relatedness that are self-perpetuating. The author delineates four common states, labeled as helpless victim, guilty perpetrator, angry victim, and demigod perpetrator, and suggests treatment strategies to deconstruct each state and to facilitate the development of an integrated and differentiated self.