If the self is not defined by the end of the symbiotic phase, which personality type emerges?

If the self is not defined by the end of the symbiotic phase, which personality type emerges?

• A. Schizoid personality
• B. Borderline personality
• C. Narcissistic personality
• D. Autistic personality

Answer: (A)

When the self is not defined by the end of the symbiotic phase, the development path tends toward withdrawal and detachment as a defensive stance. In Mahler’s object-relations framework, the symbiotic period is when the infant experiences the other as an extension of self; by its end, a clearer sense of self distinct from the caregiver should be established. If that differentiation doesn’t occur, the person often retreats from close relationships, resulting in a schizoid pattern. This includes a tendency toward emotional coldness, limited affect, and a preference for solitary activities or inner worlds over intimate, relational engagement. Borderline features would reflect more intense fear of abandonment and identity instability; narcissistic traits involve a grandiose self-image and need for admiration; the older notion of an autistic personality implies broader, earlier-appearing withdrawal. The specific outcome of self-definition failure at the symbiotic boundary aligns best with schizoid tendencies.

When the self is not defined by the end of the symbiotic phase, the development path tends toward withdrawal and detachment as a defensive stance. In Mahler’s object-relations framework, the symbiotic period is when the infant experiences the other as an extension of self; by its end, a clearer sense of self distinct from the caregiver should be established. If that differentiation doesn’t occur, the person often retreats from close relationships, resulting in a schizoid pattern. This includes a tendency toward emotional coldness, limited affect, and a preference for solitary activities or inner worlds over intimate, relational engagement.

Borderline features would reflect more intense fear of abandonment and identity instability; narcissistic traits involve a grandiose self-image and need for admiration; the older notion of an autistic personality implies broader, earlier-appearing withdrawal. The specific outcome of self-definition failure at the symbiotic boundary aligns best with schizoid tendencies.