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Family interaction and the development of borderline personality disorder: A transactional model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2005

ALAN E. FRUZZETTI ,
CHAD SHENK  and
PERRY D. HOFFMAN
ALAN E. FRUZZETTI
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
CHAD SHENK
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
PERRY D. HOFFMAN
Affiliation:
Mt. Sinai College of Medicine, New York
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Abstract

Although no prospective epidemiological studies have evaluated the relationship between family interactions and the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD), there is considerable evidence for the central role of family interactions in the development of BPD. This paper describes the role of family interactions or processes, especially those that might be regarded as invalidating or conflictual, negative or critical, and the absence of more validating, positive, supportive, empathic interactions, in the development of BPD. Perhaps more importantly, the proposed model considers how these parental and family behaviors transact with the child's own behaviors and emotional vulnerabilities, resulting in a developmental model of BPD that is neither blaming of the family member with BPD nor of her or his parents and caregivers, and has important and specific implications for both prevention and intervention.

Type
Research Article
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , December 2005 , pp. 1007 - 1030
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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