Arrested Development

[DrGachet]

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No, I'm not talking about the Bluth family.

I know that some psychiatrists prefer to view BPD as arrested development--whatever you may think of the appropriateness of that sort of label. Which is fine, especially if we're talking personality organization, not DSM disorder. But what about NPD for instance?

 

[Daftrage]

No, I'm not talking about the Bluth family.

I know that some psychiatrists prefer to view BPD as arrested development--whatever you may think of the appropriateness of that sort of label. Which is fine, especially if we're talking personality organization, not DSM disorder. But what about NPD for instance?

You have no idea just how let down I was after opening it to see I wouldn't be discussing the bluths. I might add though that nearly all the bluth family likely has a PD.

 

[billypilgrim37]

I agree. You should really rephrase the question so that you could use the Bluth family!

If you're using Kernberg's organizations, NPD and BPD don't differ so much at least with regards to the way you've asked your question. If by Arrested Development you mean that no further emotional or defensive development continues, I think that's a pretty shortsighted concept for either diagnosis. If you read Kohut, you're going to get a very different take.

 

[DrGachet]

Daftrage, that is one of my favorite sitcoms of all time!

One of my favorite scenes that had me laughing my ass off:

Michael Bluth: My relationship with Dad was much more-much more complicated than yours. It was predicated a lot on secrets and lies. There wasn't a lot of trust there.

Tobias Fünke: Here he comes. Here comes John Wayne. I'm not gonna cry about my pa. I'm gonna build me an airport, put my name on it. Why, Michael? So you can fly away from your feelings? You can keep them bottled up, Michael, but they will come out. Sometimes in the most unexpected...

[opens refrigerator and looks inside]

Tobias Fünke: Hey, where the **** are my hard-boiled eggs?


Yes, and to go back to my original question, I do think that almost every one in that family was narcissistic but the question becomes again, about how we conceptualize narcissism. In a teenager, you would think that it's developmental, that with the right sort of experience and education, that narcissism can be shaped and modified. But when it comes to a certain head of a department in my school, when you enter his office, there is a sign that reads: All hope abandon ye who enter here; Or maybe it doesn't, but that's what I think it should read. 🙂

 

[DrGachet]

Okay, okay, I can't fight you guys over this, we can talk about narcissism/personality disorders in Bluth family too. 🙂

 

[PistolPete]

I absolutely loved that show. I still can't quite understand why it got cancelled. Sad panda...