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Many schizophrenics move on the extreme ends of the scale between passivity and aggressiveness. Passivity can be the expression of instinctual aim, but may just as well function as
defense against aggression; sudden acting out of murderous fantasies is characteristic of some schizophrenics in the course of their illness. It is not easy to decide whether the murderous acts represent a breakthrough of aggression with the aim of destroying a person, or whether they appear in the course of restitution, i.e., re-establishing lost contact with the world (objects).
In my view, the withdrawal of libidinal investments from object representations leaves the schizophrenic with magic omnipotent self-love (narcissism) and often exposes the objects outside and their intrapsychic representation to destruction. The further course of dedifferentiation is an archaic defense of the ego against the destruction of objects. That from this dedifferentiation, from the experiences of fusion and loss of individuality, the aggressive act may serve the purposes of reintegration is by no means a contradiction.
The lack of differentiation between animate and inanimate objects is not a cause of violence but in a way a consequence of it; I mean by this that the withdrawal of love is the prerequisite for experiencing persons as things. So much for theory.
Dr. Searles's consistent approach of analyzing countertransference, identification, and defenses in the therapist for the understanding of the patient and the therapeutic process is certainly a model to follow. However, one cannot help feeling that these subjective reactions of the therapist and supervisor are overdrawn. Instead of using them as signals for intellectual awareness, they may be lived for longer than necessary. Also, there is too much emphasis on subjective observation. Taking for granted the existence of many subjective elements, especially when one is confronted with cases that challenge the deepest prohibitions in one's own persona