Character structure and how it impacts relational patterns, defenses and treatment
Character structure refers to a system of secondary traits or defenses, which are shown through the distinct ways that a given person reacts and relates with others. It is also manifested in the manner that a person reacts to various stimuli within the environment. A child who is made to be in conflict with legitimate emotions by living in illogical setting and associating with adult people who disregard the long-term interests dear to him or her has the highest possibility of forming such secondary traits (Paul, 2014). The child is made to block the undesired reaction feelings, which would have taken place normally. The big issue with this development is that although such blocking of unwanted emotional reaction may be of high use to the child while in the dysfunctional environment, it may make him or her to react in quite incorrect manner when interacting with others in the independent setting. In the independent environment, the child may develop alternate ways in which the energy emerges compulsively(Paul, 2014). These ways could be quite damaging to his or her long-term interests.
Character structure has significant effect on the relational patterns of a person. The manner in which somebody interacts with others and relates to different situations in the environment is affected by these secondary traits. Depending on the manner in which parents nurture a child, he or she may become quite hostile to others when adult. There are parents or guardians who are highly harsh to their children. These parents often do not allow the child to enjoy himself or herself through things desired. In other cases, the parents could be quite used to treating the child contemptuously. It is important to observe the fact that such a factor has great impact character development of a child as he or she grows up into adulthood. While in the care of hostile parents, the child starts feeling unwanted. This specific situation results into full schizophrenia on the part of the child and it starts to develop. The secondary trait, in this case, involves feeling everybody does not want and care about one’s interests. Such a child cannot relate well with others. His nor her relational patterns are negatively affected by this character structure.
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Character structure also affects the defenses of a person. Defenses are forms of denial. A person may enter a state where he or she denies feelings being experienced (Jerry, 2016). This denial is a way of avoiding to feel the pain or unwanted emotions. In other cases, a person may just refuse to accept the reality. All these conditions are caused by the character structure of a person. If a person is nurtured in an environment where he or she has to endure huge pain and suffering, denial becomes the only way to achieve perseverance and endurance. Secondary trait of denial emerges and becomes part of the person’s way of life. Therefore, in all situations the individual denies reality to avoid feeling pain.
One character structure identifiable from the handout is resistance. Through resistance, character structure has a significant impact on the treatments received by the affected person. For instance, character structure makes a person to be unresponsive to therapeutic treatment. The individual becomes resistant the therapeutic interventions meant to correct a given condition. Secondary traits keep the patient or client from experiencing the unwanted conflict in therapy. The client may start challenging the therapeutic process itself or even the therapist. In other cases, the person chooses to avoid therapeutic sessions.
How you would address these issues in treatment
I would address these issues in treatment by ensuring I assist the client to see his or her resistance and work on ways of overcoming it. When a client is made to see his or her resistance, it is possible for him or her to understand the significance of the process and decide to cooperate. Understanding resistance is the main thing I will focus on to address the issue.
Reference
Paul, D. (2014). The Analysis of Autistic Character Structure in. The Borderline Patient: Emerging Concepts in Diagnosis, Psychodynamics, and Treatment , 7 , 149.
Jerry E. D. (2016). Learning to navigate your client’s defenses. Fellowship of Christian Counselors.
