Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition that affects a person's thoughts, emotions, and behavior. While individuals with BPD may not perceive others as mere objects in a literal sense, they can experience difficulties in their relationships, including struggles with object consistency.
Object consistency refers to the ability to maintain a stable and consistent emotional perception of others, even when they are not physically present. In healthy individuals, there is an understanding that people have both positive and negative qualities and that their overall perception remains relatively stable despite temporary conflicts or emotional fluctuations.
However, individuals with BPD often struggle with maintaining object consistency. They may have intense and rapidly shifting emotions, and this can lead to a phenomenon known as "splitting." Splitting is a cognitive distortion where people with BPD tend to see others as either all good or all bad. When they experience positive feelings about someone, they might idealize that person, perceiving them as perfect. Conversely, during moments of frustration or disappointment, they may demonize that person and perceive them as entirely negative.
This inability to maintain a balanced and consistent perception of others can lead to difficulties in relationships, as their emotional reactions might oscillate rapidly and unpredictably. It can also contribute to interpersonal conflicts and difficulties in forming stable and healthy connections with others.
It's essential to recognize that BPD is a complex condition, and not every individual with BPD will experience object inconsistency in the same way. Therapy and support can be highly beneficial in helping individuals with BPD develop healthier coping mechanisms, emotional regulation skills, and more stable interpersonal relationships.