Compartmentalization (psychology)
Encyclopedia
Compartmentalizing is the act of splitting an idea
or concept
up into (sometimes more or less arbitrary) parts, and trying to enforce thought processes which are inhibiting attempts to allow these parts to mix together again. This process is performed in an attempt to simplify things, and to defend against anxiety. According to Glen O. Gabbard, often 'people with a borderline
level of organization... have to compartmentalize people into "all good" and "all bad"', on the principle that 'compartmentalizing experiences... prevents conflict stemming from the incompatibility of the two polarized aspects of self or other'. Often, 'when the individual is confronted with the contradictions in behavior, thought, or affect, he/she regards the differences with bland denial or indifference'.
Psychiatrist Robin Skynner
suggests the 'simplicity...[of] splitting everything into neat compartments of "good" and "bad" does several things for us, all of which make us feel better. First, it helps us feel part of a "good" group - that's comforting. Second, we can relax our usual standards of correct behaviour for a bit... And third, we can let off steam, that is, get rid of our own "bad" feelings on to the "baddies"'.
Idea
In the most narrow sense, an idea is just whatever is before the mind when one thinks. Very often, ideas are construed as representational images; i.e. images of some object. In other contexts, ideas are taken to be concepts, although abstract concepts do not necessarily appear as images...
or concept
Concept
The word concept is used in ordinary language as well as in almost all academic disciplines. Particularly in philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences the term is much used and much discussed. WordNet defines concept: "conception, construct ". However, the meaning of the term concept is much...
up into (sometimes more or less arbitrary) parts, and trying to enforce thought processes which are inhibiting attempts to allow these parts to mix together again. This process is performed in an attempt to simplify things, and to defend against anxiety. According to Glen O. Gabbard, often 'people with a borderline
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person , characterized by depth and variability of moods.The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; the...
level of organization... have to compartmentalize people into "all good" and "all bad"', on the principle that 'compartmentalizing experiences... prevents conflict stemming from the incompatibility of the two polarized aspects of self or other'. Often, 'when the individual is confronted with the contradictions in behavior, thought, or affect, he/she regards the differences with bland denial or indifference'.
Psychiatrist Robin Skynner
Robin Skynner
Robin Skynner was a Royal Air Force pilot who flew the Mosquito twin-engined bomber, and was also a psychiatric pioneer and innovator in the field of treating mental illness...
suggests the 'simplicity...[of] splitting everything into neat compartments of "good" and "bad" does several things for us, all of which make us feel better. First, it helps us feel part of a "good" group - that's comforting. Second, we can relax our usual standards of correct behaviour for a bit... And third, we can let off steam, that is, get rid of our own "bad" feelings on to the "baddies"'.