The Paranoid-Schizoid Position

The Paranoid-Schizoid position is a concept from psychoanalysis describing a stage in early emotional development where a person clings to black-and-white thinking. They tend to split experiences and people into all-good or all-bad, as a way to manage anxiety and fears. This mental splitting helps protect against feelings of vulnerability or betrayal, but can also lead to paranoia, mistrust, and difficulty in integrating complex emotions. It’s a natural phase in psychological growth, where individuals learn to balance their perceptions and develop a more integrated, realistic view of themselves and others over time.