Why are humans, who are motivated by self-preservation, motivated to engage in behaviors that threaten and even extinguish their existence? The themes included in this book are: (1) the emerging understanding of self-destructiveness in culture, religion, philosophy and psychology, (2) Bion s investigation into the self-destructive capacity of the mind, (3) Heidegger s ontology of Being and the Enframing of technology, (4) identifying and delineating the "who" who most experiences the impact of human-to-human destructiveness in out contemporary culture."

The stated purpose of this phenomenological psychoanalytic study is to make the phenomenon of self-destruction and its vicissitudes intelligible. It presents the nature of the relationship between the essence of technology and the essence of self-destructiveness.

Damage and reparation are central themes of human existence. Melanie Klein, among other pivotal discoveries, noted our capacity for destructiveness towards others and ourselves. More importantly, she accented the centrality of reparation for mental health. Acceptance of the truth, 'inner' and 'outer', is essential to this process.The author goes on to explain the phenomenon of reparation around the themes of truth (aletheia), faith (pistis) and repentance/transformation (metanoia), especially as they appear in the philosophical works of Martin Heidegger and the psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion. He then continues following the phenomenon of metanoia, tracing it sequentially in the works of Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion, Martin Heidegger, C.G. Jung and R.D. Laing. These thinkers have a surprisingly high degree of reflection upon and import into common, everyday lived experience. Brent Potter's work concludes with a critique of psychiatry, cognitive-behavioral and manualised approaches to psychological distress. He then presents modalities and programs, utilizing a metanoia perspective, that are rising to replace them.

Damage and reparation are central themes of human existence. Melanie Klein, among other pivotal discoveries, noted our capacity for destructiveness towards others and ourselves. More importantly, she accented the centrality of reparation for mental health. Acceptance of the truth, 'inner' and 'outer', is essential to this process.The author goes on to explain the phenomenon of reparation around the themes of truth (aletheia), faith (pistis) and repentance/transformation (metanoia), especially as they appear in the philosophical works of Martin Heidegger and the psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion. He then continues following the phenomenon of metanoia, tracing it sequentially in the works of Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion, Martin Heidegger, C.G. Jung and R.D. Laing. These thinkers have a surprisingly high degree of reflection upon and import into common, everyday lived experience. Brent Potter's work concludes with a critique of psychiatry, cognitive-behavioral and manualised approaches to psychological distress. He then presents modalities and programs, utilizing a metanoia perspective, that are rising to replace them.

This book is an ideal resource for general readers who want a clear understanding of people suffering with chaotic emotions, and for clinicians treating patients for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The patterns of behavior of those with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are often frustrating and mystifying to both clinicians and family members, despite several decades of study and research on this form of distress. Borderline Personality Disorder: New Perspectives on a Stigmatizing and Overused Diagnosis presents a thorough critical and historical review of the diagnosis of BPD and explores-through academic and clinical narratives-the different processes that occur in borderline behavior patterns. The authors offer new perspectives that emphasize the whole person rather than a diagnosis, addressing the emotional storms and mood instability of BPD, providing guidance on managing emotional chaos in the therapeutic relationship, and explaining how to use one's own feelings as a clinical tool. Their approach gives an intimate experiential feel for the interpersonal processes that occur in psychotherapy for both the patient and therapist. The result: readers will better understand who the person behind the diagnosis is, and comprehend what it really feels like to be someone struggling with these difficult interpersonal patterns. Provides a historical exploration of how the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder emerged Explains what causes Borderline Personality Disorder Presents case vignettes that give readers an unprecedented look into the lived experience of persons suffering from emotional chaos