Citation

Ogawa T. Seishin Shinkeigaku Zasshi 2012; 114(10): 1149-1157.

Affiliation

Department of Psychopathology & Psychotherapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Nihon Seishin Shinkei Gakkai)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23234194

Abstract

Two different types of pathology can cause social withdrawal: the narcissistic--schizoid personality organization (NSPO) type and the mild Asperger's syndrome (mild developmental disorders) type. Only the former type can be treated by psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In the childhood of both types, one may find traumatic family environments which will result in social withdrawal (Hikikomori). In the infancy of the NSPO type, the mother fails to function as a sufficient container of the child's emotion, which encourages formation of a schizoid personality organization i.e. the psychic withdrawal (or "psychic retreat" by Steiner, J.). With only a little failure in life events, this may turn into a physical withdrawal for a long time. And in this type of pathology their aggression takes a passive form that hardens their social withdrawal situation. Moreover, the social withdrawal itself serves to reinforce the pathological narcissism.

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