splitting ferns - Gardening
Splitting was also described by Hyppolyte Taine in 1878 who described splitting as a splitting of the ego. He described this as the existence of two thoughts, wills, distinct actions simultaneously within an individual who is aware of one mind without the awareness of the other. Splitting is a symptom of borderline personality disorder where a person is unable to hold opposing thoughts and sees everything as black or white.
Understanding the Context
One key behavior shared by many people with BPD is known as splitting. This happens when an individual with BPD sees a situation in an all-or-nothing or good-versus-bad way. Splitting is defined as: A mental mechanism in which the self or others are viewed as all good or all bad, with failure to integrate the positive and negative qualities of the self and others... A therapist explains BPD splitting — the sudden shift from idealization to devaluation — including the neurobiology behind it and how driven women can protect themselves.
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Key Insights
BPD Splitting: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Stop ... Splitting is a term defined in psychology as a defense mechanism that involves dividing the world into “all good” or “all bad” categories. It simplifies complex situations but also distorts reality, as the same object or person cannot be viewed with nuance. Some people with BPD experience splitting, which is when an individual can only see something as good or bad. Learn more.