An Understanding of the Major Mental Pathologies
From the perspective of Being, then the major mental pathologies can be understood thus:
- Psychosis is a reflection of the absence of, or conflicts about, the Merging Essence in the symbiotic stage.
- The schizoid condition is a reflection of the absence of, or conflicts about, the Strength Essence, mainly in the differentiation subphase.
- Pathological narcissism is a reflection of the absence of, or conflicts about, the Essential Self, primarily in the practicing subphase.
- The borderline condition is a reflection of the absence of, or conflicts about, the Personal Essence, primarily in the rapprochement subphase.
- Neurosis is a reflection of the absence of, or conflicts about, the essential aspects involved in the Oedipus complex.
We will not discuss the oedipal phase here, but will only mention that it is possible to see that there are three essential aspects involved in it: the aspect of Passionate Love related to oedipal love; the aspect of Power related to oedipal hatred; and the aspect of the Personal Essence in one of its developments which involves the sensuous and sensual qualities. This last aspect has to do with personalizing the physical body, i.e., integrating it into the experience of the Personal Essence.
This is only a suggestive picture of different ego characters seen from the perspective of Being, and is not meant to be rigorous or complete.