Dynamics of character. Self -regulation in psychopathology. Shapiro D.

In this book, David Shapiro deepens his studies, set forth in the books “Neurotic styles” and “Autonomy and a rigid personality”. It creates a general picture of the dynamics of character as a self-regulating system, covering individual attitudes, forms of action and attitude to the outside world.

The author shows a formal connection between the obsessed-informed and paranoia, hysterical and psychopathic and hypomanic states. Explits the relationship between neurotic conditions and schizophrenia. Concludes that the qualitatively changed form of schizophrenic symptoms is best considered as a radical spread of neurotic protection, and not as a gap or their complete destruction.

the author critically refers to a simplified model of complex mental processes, which reduces the causes of symptoms to biological defect or psychological trauma. Thus, this book expands and deepens the initial, sophisticated and consolidating idea of ​​David Shapiro about psychopathology.