RESUMEN
ABSTRACT: Kernberg and McWilliams have spawned differing conceptualizations of the relationship between depressive and masochistic (self-defeating) personalities. Kernberg describes these personality styles as largely overlapping in features, whereas McWilliams accentuates important clinical differences that make up two distinct personalities. In this article, their theoretical perspectives are discussed and framed as more complementary than competitive. The malignant self-regard (MSR) construct is introduced and reviewed as an integrative self-representation that is shared by both depressive and masochistic personalities, as well as those often referred to as vulnerably narcissistic. We investigate developmental conflicts, motivations for perfectionism, countertransference patterns, and overall level of functioning as four primary clinical features through which a therapist may differentiate a depressive from a masochistic personality. We argue that depressive personalities tend to have more dependency-related conflicts and perfectionistic strivings motivated by lost object reunification, elicit more insidiously positive countertransference reactions in session, and are generally higher-functioning individuals. Masochistic personalities have more oedipal-related conflicts and perfectionistic strivings motivated by object control, elicit more aggressive countertransference reactions, and are relatively lower functioning. MSR is positioned as a bridge between Kernberg's and McWilliam's ideas. We close with a discussion of treatment implications for both disorders as well as how to understand and treat MSR.
Asunto(s)
Perfeccionismo , Personalidad , Humanos , Trastornos de la Personalidad/terapia , Narcisismo , MotivaciónRESUMEN
ABSTRACT: Malignant self-regard (MSR) is a self-representation that encompasses the shared features of depressive personality disorder, masochistic/self-defeating personality disorder, depressive-masochistic personality, and vulnerable narcissism. In this review we begin by describing the construct's historical precursors, which begin in early psychoanalytic/dynamic theory, and then trace its development across iterations of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Special attention is paid to differentiating MSR from vulnerable narcissism. We then consider MSR's place within transdiagnostic, transtheoretical, and dimensional models of personality pathology. We focus heavily on MSR's impact on various personality systems (e.g., thought and affect systems) and also on overall personality functioning. The empirical research on MSR in relation to these systems is thoroughly reviewed and largely supports its psychometric properties and clinical significance. We suggest that MSR may map onto the distress subfactor in the hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology (HiTOP) and that MSR seems to occupy the shared internalizing space across the neurotic and borderline level of personality organization in Kernberg's model of personality disorders. We also identify four major directions for future research: the possible benefits of self-defeating tendencies that involve pathological narcissism and self-esteem; MSR's relationship to overall health and well-being; depressive states and MSR severity; and how MSR fits within the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders and the personality disorder framework of the International Classification of Diseases.