Neurotic Styles

by David A. Shapiro

This new edition of one of the books most closely identified with clinical psychology since 1965 will expose a new generation to Shapiro's stunningly defining conceptualizations of the Obsessive-Compulsive, Paranoid, Hysterical, and Impulsive ways of being.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Grad School

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1964

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a demanding read for a book so short (under 200 pages). Austen Riggs a major psychoanalytic center... this was a book for the psychological professional, an argument about how neurotic people conform to certain 'styles' of thinking and behavior: paranoid, obsessive, hysterical, and impulsive (which has subcategories, the psychopathic and the passive)-- and varieties of same. The language is very specific as Shapiro unfolds his ideas -- therefore for the layperson, there's a constant internal translation out of psychoanalytic terms into everyday terms (e.g. 'affective' instead of 'feeling') requires slow and careful reading.

But I found the subject matter fascinating, worth the effort. In each 'style' I could absolutely picture a person of my acquaintance or a character, an actor or a political figure. Anybody interested in human motivation and behavior, especially difficult, maddening, perplexing folks who think very differently than the. norm, this is a wonderful addition to your psychology bookshelf, especially great for the writer, actor, playwright.

It doesn't linger on the case histories--the possibilities of why certain individuals function that way--but focuses on the mechanics of how they function. It sees their behavior as a certain 'style'--a way this individual and those like him/her handle the pressures of life. As to be expected from psychoanalysists, it's not judgmental, only clarifying the case as presented. Nor does it offer any cures. This is just a picture.

The paranoid style has the most detailed section, and explains a lot of the conspiracist mentality we see around us... and man, the psychopathic impulsive sure reminded me of someone currently running my country.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay, although I had higher hopes since it is a classic in psychoanalytic theory. Shapiro does a nice job of discussing character structures but I think McWilliams does this more adeptly in Psychoanalytic Diagnosis. The last chapter is worth a read in terms of what defenses mean and how our character structure impacts these defenses.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are or plan to be a psychologist in New York City, you would be wise to read this, and if you read it for class and didn't absorb anything, you would be wise to read it again.

[Jen Crichton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is a neurotic and what is the point of therapy?

My greatest takeaway from this book as a non-therapist is that a neurotic is a person who has become a stranger to oneself.

I don’t know why I’m so upset.
Why did I do that?
I just feel out of sorts and I don’t know why.

Neuroses as adaptive constructions that take you away from feelings you can’t cope with has always made sense to me. But the end result of constructing a self that is a stranger to oneself was less clear.

The neurotic styles that Shapiro describes are blueprints of such adaptations. I am sure much of the text is outdated, especially as it pertains to the more dire mental illnesses. But so much still rings true. Human nature and insights into it don’t move all that quickly.

Now I know all and I’m cured!

Ha, no. But the great benefit of talk therapy and reading a book like this — for certain people — is that psychological understanding can help you become less of a stranger to yourself. Every time you understand yourself a bit more clearly, the more integrated and strong you become as a person which in turn helps dismantle the neurotic carapace.

For every page or two reading this book, I stared into space and thought a bit about myself and the people who I know. It took me a year to read. But by the end I became slightly less strange to myself.

[J. Keck · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting view into the psychodynamic understanding of various personality disorders. I used this book in a psychopathology class. More current books are useful in understanding and treatment of the disorders.

[Benjamin Dike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating ideas about the relationship between attention, volition and affect. Really outstanding, similar to the work of phenomenologists like Maurice Merleau Ponty.

[Özenç Öztürk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ego psikolojisi açısından nostaljik bir yere sahip öğretici nitelikte bir kitap.

[Peter Feld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This perceptive psychoanalytic treatise doubles as a dating guide if you read between the lines!

[Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Rachel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for my Psychopathology course, and found it quite informative and perceptive. Def. a book to read and reread.

[Eric]

Chapter 2 gave a lot of insight into effective altruism for a 55-year old book.

[Patty 🐈‍⬛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ho fatto fatica a leggerlo. Credo che sia destinato agli addetti ai lavori e non ai curiosi e basta come me.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good delineation of hysterical cognition

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! If you are into psychology, read it!

[Psihoterapeut psihanalist Dorin Bîtfoi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly, the book offers little or no psychodynamic insight, but insists on delineating a "formal" approach to neurotic realities.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a good perspective on how each neurotic style feels, or manifests.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got to read this book for a class but I have to admit... it's pretty good!

[Valentina Năstăşel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Badly needs another editing.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 1979.