PERSONALITY OR DISORDER? PERSONALITY DISORDERS

psikolojiozel10-1-25kapak

Dependent Personality Disorder

Barışhan ERDOĞANa
aİstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Institute of Forensic Sciences and Legal Medicine, Department of Social Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye

Erdoğan B. Dependent personality disorder. Tunç P, ed. Personality or Disorder? Personality Disorders. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.73-82.

ABSTRACT
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive need for care, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors and a profound fear of separation. This chapter explores the disorder through the psychodynamic theoretical framework, focusing on object relations, defense mechanisms, and the dynamics of transference and countertransference. By examining how early childhood experiences of attachment and caregiving contribute to dependency patterns, the paper elucidates the underlying psychological conflicts associated with the disorder. Additionally, the paper investigates the role of transference and countertransference in therapy, emphasizing their impact on both the therapeutic relationship and treatment efficacy. The aim is to enhance theoretical understanding and clinical practice, contributing to the literature on personality disorders and offering practical insights as well as discussions for more effective therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Dependent personality disorder; personality disorders; psychoanalytic theory; psychodynamic psychotherapy; object relations; defense mechanisms

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