The Role of Shame in the Development of the Schizoid Process
Keywords:
Schizoid process, schizoid compromise, shame, suicidal ideation, suicide, somatic, psychogenic pain, script beliefs, attunement, relational needsAbstract
The author considers the role of shame and the response to it, which shedescribes as self-protective avoidance of relationship, in the development of a
schizoid process. She proposes that the intention and action of suicide may in
some cases be the ultimate schizoid withdrawal. She describes her work over 10
years with a young woman who required a gentle, attuned, relational process to
help her heal a relational split.