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This paper attempts to delineate and illustrate an unusual, almost extrasensory-appearing form of perception and communication not rarely observed in individuals with borderline personality organization (Krohn, 1974). Such individuals display a pseudo-empathic sensitivity to the primitive affective states of others and are also exquisitely sensitive to subtle, preverbal 'messages' from those to whom they are emotionally close, specifically those with whom they have a symbiotic-like relationship. The traumatic early development of borderline individuals is a consequence of having been reared by borderline parents (Masterson, 1972) ; (Masterson & Rinsley, 1975) ; (Rinsley, 1977) such that a pathogenic fixation occurs during the late symbiotic–early separation-individuation phases (Mahler et al., 1975). This juncture in the infant's psychosocial development is characterized by an unstable internal sense of self which requires continual confirmation by the (symbiotic) mother, mutual sensitivity to non-verbal cueing between mother and child, lack of separation of self and object and lack of integration of 'good' and 'bad' experiences into whole-object experiences and relations (Kernberg, 1972). Pathologic persistence of this state of affairs leads to the development of an overly intense awareness of the environment as the child seeks confirmation of his nascent sense of self and even more assiduously seeks to avoid 'dangerous' experiences which are perceived to threaten it. As manifested in the borderline adolescent and adult, this awareness appears in the form of a unique ability to empathize with others, but in fact represents a particular manifestation of the persistence of projective-introjective defensive operations (Shapiro, 1974).
Individuals with borderline personality organization (borderline syndrome) display shifting extremes of mood, mutually conflicting and contradictory personality traits and serious difficulties in interpersonal relations (Kernberg, 19