Theodore Millon > Quotes

“Borderlines create the vicious circles they fear most. They become angry and drive the relationship to the breaking point, then switch to a posture of helplessness and contrition, beg for reconciliation. If both parties are equally enmeshed, chaos and conflict become the soul of the relationship.”
― Theodore Millon

“One response to feeling abandoned is to abandon yourself.”
― Theodore Millon

“Narcissists have a tough job because perfection is viewed as either all or nothing: If you are not perfect, you are imperfect, and if you are imperfect, you are nothing.”
― Theodore Millon, Personality Disorders in Modern Life

“Neither responding to praise nor criticism, the social dynamics typically held to most of us as important are merely incidental to schizoids.”
― Theodore Millon, Personality Disorders in Modern Life

“Temperament is closely related to mood but best refers to the sum total of biological constraints on personality.”
― Theodore Millon, Personality Disorders in Modern Life

“A
long tradition in psychology asserts that every individual operates somewhat like a
naïve scientist who needs to make sense of the world. Likewise, disciplines as fundamental as anthropology and existentialism assert that we are meaning-making creatures. When an unusual event occurs, we cannot resist developing a theory about its
causes. Even if incorrect, the explanation gives comfort by assuring us that the world
is predictable rather than random.”
― Theodore Millon, Personality Disorders in Modern Life