Splitting
Splitting is a psychological term understood in two ways, a 'splitting of the mind' and as splitting of mental concepts. The latter thinking in extremes, good vs. bad, powerful vs. defenseless, a developmental stage and defense mechanism.
Splitting creates instability in relationships, as in borderline personality disorder, people are seen as all good or all bad, depending on being frustrated or gratified. Similar emotion leads to chaotic, unstable relationship patterns, identity diffusion and mood swings.
Borderline disordered people suffer intense fusion anxiety, the boundaries between self and others are not firm. A tender moment could mean dissolving into the other. Anxiety develops, if not properly resolved, is repeated.
Opposing feelings of love and hate, should have been split apart, usually hatred, appropriately repressed. This splitting linked to 'isolation'.
Melanie Klein's object relation theory recognizes this polarization, suggesting it handled in childhood.
Wikipedia
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