Relationships can sometimes feel like an emotional rollercoaster, especially when there is a sudden shift from admiration to disdain. This cycle, known as idealization and devaluation, is frequently linked with borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Idealization and devaluation serve as defense mechanisms to help individuals cope with anxiety, whether it stems from internal or external sources. While these subconscious protective measures are commonly associated with BPD, they can also manifest in other types of personality disorders.
Understanding Splitting in Borderline Personality Disorder
In BPD, the fluctuation between idealization and devaluation is referred to as splitting. This phenomenon indicates a disturbance in an individual’s thinking and their capacity to regulate emotions. When under stress, individuals with BPD struggle to uphold a balanced perspective that acknowledges both positive and negative aspects of a person.
Understanding Idealization and Devaluation
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often experience a rapid shift in their feelings towards others. This can manifest as extreme admiration and idealization of a person followed by intense anger or dislike, known as devaluation.
Continue reading to discover more about the pattern of idealization and devaluation, the reasons behind this behavior in individuals with BPD, and the impact of splitting on their interpersonal connections.
What is Idealization?
Idealization refers to the psychological process of ascribing overly positive attributes to a person or object, often as a way to deal with anxiety. It involves viewing someone or something with ambivalence as flawless or possessing exaggerated positive traits.
By idealizing, individuals can diminish anxiety by shielding themselves from potential emotional conflicts that may arise in a relationship. Rather than confronting the possibility that the other person is not flawless or that the relationship could fail, idealization helps maintain the illusion of perfection.
Individuals with borderline personality disorder often exhibit idealization towards friends, family members, or romantic partners.
For instance, placing someone on a pedestal is a classic example of idealization. This involves viewing a person as faultless and admiring them unconditionally. However, this idealized perception can rapidly shift to intense feelings of anger and disdain, known as devaluation.
What Is Devaluation?
In the realm of psychiatry and psychology, devaluation serves as a defense mechanism that operates in opposition to idealization. It involves a person portraying themselves, an object, or another individual as entirely flawed, worthless, or possessing magnified negative attributes.
The transition from idealization to devaluation can occur swiftly, particularly for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) who often struggle to find a middle ground. When faced with challenges, threats, or disappointments, those with BPD may rapidly shift from idealizing to devaluing individuals they once viewed in a positive light. The presence of ambivalence can generate stress, and instead of addressing it directly, devaluation serves to reduce the anxiety stemming from uncertainty.
What Does Idealization and Devaluation Feel Like?
Both idealization and devaluation involve intense emotions of either affection or anger. The individual experiencing these feelings may find the transition between the two confusing.
Those who experience these cycles often struggle with the sudden change from being idealized to being devalued. This fluctuation can pose challenges for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder in maintaining stable relationships.
Splitting as a Protective Strategy
Splitting is characterized by the inability to reconcile conflicting thoughts, beliefs, or emotions. Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often see others in absolute, binary terms.
This defensive mechanism serves to shield individuals with BPD from potential emotional harm within relationships. By categorizing individuals as either “good” or “bad,” they can navigate interpersonal connections while mitigating vulnerability to hurt. If a threat is perceived, they can swiftly dismiss the person or the relationship by deeming them as “bad.”
Similar to other defense mechanisms, those with BPD may not consciously recognize their tendencies towards idealization and devaluation. Splitting functions as an unconscious safeguard against stressors perceived by the individual.
The Role of Splitting in Borderline Personality Disorder
Splitting, characterized by the rapid shifting between idealization and devaluation, is a common trait in individuals with borderline personality disorder.
Challenges in Maintaining an Integrated View
One of the challenges in individuals with borderline personality disorder is the struggle to maintain a balanced view of themselves, particularly under stressful circumstances. Research suggests that the brain, specifically the amygdala and prefrontal lobe, may play a role in this difficulty.
Other Conditions Involving Idealization and Devaluation
The cycle of idealization and devaluation is commonly associated with borderline personality disorder, but it can also manifest in other conditions.
Idealization may be present in individuals with narcissistic personality disorder, directed towards themselves or their therapist. On the other hand, devaluation is not exclusive to those with borderline personality disorder and can be observed in other personality disorders such as antisocial personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder.
The Cycle of ‘Idealize, Devalue, Discard’ in Narcissistic Behavior
Individuals with narcissistic traits often engage in a pattern where they first idealize others, then devalue them, and eventually discard them. This repetitive cycle, known as ‘idealize, devalue, discard,’ is believed to be a mechanism through which the person manages internal and external conflicts that contribute to feelings of anxiety and shame.
Do I Exhibit Idealization and Devaluation Behavior Associated with BPD?
If you find yourself idealizing people only to devalue them when they upset you, you may question whether you have borderline personality disorder. These actions are common defense mechanisms seen in those with BPD.
However, engaging in these defense mechanisms alone does not confirm a BPD diagnosis; it is just one aspect of the disorder.
BPD manifests with various symptoms, including:
Consult a healthcare professional or therapist if you suspect that you rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms like these to manage emotional conflicts or stress. A therapist can assist you in cultivating new patterns of behavior and thought that can enhance your interpersonal relationships.
How to Address Idealization and Devaluation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Research indicates that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is manageable through treatment, leading to symptom reduction and enhanced relationship dynamics. Psychotherapy plays a crucial role in helping individuals with BPD navigate through unhealthy thinking patterns such as idealization and devaluation.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a branch of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is a beneficial approach that equips individuals with BPD with tools to enhance coping mechanisms, cultivate healthier interpersonal connections, and regulate emotions effectively.
Leichsenring F, Fonagy P, Heim N, et al. Borderline personality disorder: A comprehensive review of diagnosis and clinical presentation, etiology, treatment, and current controversies. World Psychiatry. 2024;23(1):4-25. doi:10.1002/wps.21156
Research on Idealization and Personality Disorders
Recent research in psychology has focused on the concept of idealization and its connection to various personality disorders. Studies by Leduc-Cummings and colleagues (2020) and Story et al. (2024) have delved into the social inference model of idealization and devaluation, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon.
Idealization in Borderline Personality Disorder
Ruocco and Marceau (2024) have conducted a comprehensive review of the neurobiology of borderline personality disorder, examining structural, resting-state, and task-based brain imaging studies. Their work provides valuable insights into the neural correlates of idealization in individuals with this disorder.
Defense Mechanisms and Personality Disorders
Another study by Perry, Presniak, and Olson (2013) explored defense mechanisms in various personality disorders, including schizotypal, borderline, antisocial, and narcissistic. By understanding the role of defense mechanisms in these disorders, researchers aim to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies for individuals with personality pathology.
