A client with borderline personality disorder repeatedly ends sessions by declaring the therapist has been unhelpful, while at other times praising the therapist; this pattern exemplifies which defense mechanism?

A client with borderline personality disorder repeatedly ends sessions by declaring the therapist has been unhelpful, while at other times praising the therapist; this pattern exemplifies which defense mechanism?

• A. Projection
• B. Splitting
• C. Rationalization
• D. Denial

Answer: (B)

Splitting is the pattern here. In this defense, a person with intense, unstable emotions—common in borderline personality disorder—views others as all good or all bad and shifts between those extremes. So the therapist is alternately praised as wonderful and unhelpful, depending on the moment, rather than seen as a complex person with both strengths and limitations. This helps the client manage fear of abandonment and conflicting feelings by keeping relationships in black-and-white categories. Divergent patterns like projection would involve attributing one’s own unwanted thoughts to the therapist, rationalization would be offering excuses to justify feelings, and denial would be refusing to acknowledge reality. The oscillation between idealizing and devaluing the therapist is classic splitting.

Splitting is the pattern here. In this defense, a person with intense, unstable emotions—common in borderline personality disorder—views others as all good or all bad and shifts between those extremes. So the therapist is alternately praised as wonderful and unhelpful, depending on the moment, rather than seen as a complex person with both strengths and limitations. This helps the client manage fear of abandonment and conflicting feelings by keeping relationships in black-and-white categories. Divergent patterns like projection would involve attributing one’s own unwanted thoughts to the therapist, rationalization would be offering excuses to justify feelings, and denial would be refusing to acknowledge reality. The oscillation between idealizing and devaluing the therapist is classic splitting.