„Anger and Hatred“: Understanding Otto Kernberg’s Insights into Hostility and Aggression

Otto Kernberg, a prominent figure in the field of psychoanalysis, made significant contributions to understanding the dynamics of anger and hatred in the human psyche. In his works, Kernberg not only explored the clinical manifestations of these emotions but also delved deeply into their psychological and developmental roots. In this blog article, we will explore Kernberg’s psychoanalytic concepts related to anger and hatred, and how they inform our understanding of personality disorders, especially those involving borderline and narcissistic features.

The Nature of Anger and Hatred in Psychoanalysis
At the core of Kernberg’s work is the belief that anger and hatred are not simply fleeting emotional reactions but profound psychological forces that shape personality structures and interpersonal relationships. For Kernberg, these emotions are intricately linked to deeper feelings of frustration, insecurity, and narcissistic injury. They are often fueled by experiences of emotional deprivation, rejection, or shame—especially in early childhood.

Kernberg proposed that emotions like anger and hatred arise from a deep sense of feeling unimportant or devalued by others. When a person’s narcissistic needs are not met or when they perceive themselves as inadequate or worthless, anger can erupt as a defensive response. This emotion becomes a way of asserting control over feelings of helplessness and vulnerability.

While anger may serve as an active defense against feelings of shame, hatred is a more destructive emotion that often emerges when resentment and hostility accumulate over time. It is a more global emotion, one that can become focused not just on the individual who caused harm, but on the world or people in general. Hatred, in this sense, can be seen as an expression of disillusionment and narcissistic rage—an intense desire to destroy or annihilate the source of one’s suffering, real or imagined.

Kernberg’s Work on Aggression and Borderline Disorders
Kernberg is perhaps best known for his work on borderline personality disorder (BPD) and his exploration of aggressive drives within this diagnosis. He proposed that individuals with BPD often struggle with extreme forms of anger and hatred as a result of primitive emotional states and unintegrated self-objects (such as parents or significant caregivers).

In Kernberg’s view, people with borderline personalities often experience emotions in a splitting fashion. That is, they see themselves and others as either all good or all bad, with little capacity to tolerate nuance or complexity. This splitting leads to emotional instability and intense anger or hatred when others fail to meet their idealized expectations.

For individuals with BPD, even minor slights or perceived rejections can trigger overwhelming feelings of rage. Kernberg’s theory emphasizes that this anger is a response to profound feelings of emptiness, abandonment, or narcissistic injury, often stemming from unresolved early attachment issues. These feelings of rage and hatred are not simply reactions to the present situation but are deeply rooted in past experiences of trauma, neglect, or loss.

Narcissism and the Role of Anger and Hatred
Kernberg’s work on narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) further underscores the central role of anger and hatred in personality pathology. He saw narcissism as a defense mechanism against deep feelings of inadequacy and narcissistic injury. In this context, anger becomes a defensive reaction when the individual perceives a threat to their self-image or grandiosity. The defensive rage that arises in response to narcissistic injury can be intense and directed toward the source of criticism or perceived devaluation.

Hatred in narcissism is often less about interpersonal conflicts and more about a destructive desire to eradicate anything that threatens the narcissist’s carefully constructed self-image. The hatred of others in NPD is often directed toward anyone who threatens the narcissistic façade—be it through criticism, competition, or the recognition of flaws. In extreme cases, the narcissist’s hatred can become dehumanizing, as they may view others merely as objects that serve to support or detract from their self-worth.

Anger and Hatred in the Context of Projective Identification
One of Kernberg’s key contributions to the psychoanalytic understanding of aggression is his concept of projective identification. This defense mechanism plays a critical role in both borderline and narcissistic disorders. Projective identification occurs when an individual unconsciously projects their own unacceptable feelings or impulses (such as anger or hatred) onto another person. The person who is the target of this projection is then seen as the one harboring these feelings.

In Kernberg’s model, projective identification is central to how individuals with narcissistic or borderline disorders interact with others. For example, a person with BPD may project their intense anger onto others, seeing others as hostile or rejecting, even when they are not. This leads to conflict and misunderstanding, as the individual’s internalized rage becomes enacted in their external relationships.

The use of projective identification may be so powerful that it can leave the recipient of this projection feeling confused and emotionally overwhelmed, as if they are being possessed by the emotions projected onto them. This dynamic is particularly prevalent in therapeutic settings, where patients with BPD or NPD may direct their anger and hatred toward the therapist as a way of externalizing their internal turmoil.

Healing and Transforming Anger and Hatred in Therapy
The therapeutic process, according to Kernberg, involves helping patients recognize and understand the roots of their anger and hatred, particularly how these emotions are often projections of unresolved narcissistic injury or unmet attachment needs. Therapy offers an opportunity for individuals to integrate their fragmented emotional states and build a more cohesive sense of self.

Kernberg emphasized that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for helping patients manage these powerful feelings. The therapist’s ability to remain stable, containing, and non-reactive in the face of intense projections allows the patient to experience emotional containment and, over time, to reorganize their fragmented self-structure.

The goal of treatment is to help patients shift from splitting and projective identification to a more integrated experience of themselves and others. By understanding the origins of their anger and hatred, individuals can begin to regulate their emotions in healthier ways, ultimately leading to more adaptive coping mechanisms and improved interpersonal functioning.

Conclusion: Understanding Anger and Hatred in Personality Disorders
In Otto Kernberg’s psychoanalytic framework, anger and hatred are not mere emotional reactions but are deeply rooted in unresolved narcissistic injuries, early attachment disruptions, and splitting defenses. For individuals with borderline or narcissistic personality structures, these emotions serve as mechanisms for self-protection against profound feelings of vulnerability and emptiness.

Therapists working with these patients must be attuned to the complex dynamics of projection, splitting, and aggression, and understand the underlying need for emotional integration. Through the containment and interpretation of these powerful emotions, the therapeutic relationship becomes a vital tool in transforming anger and hatred into more adaptive, integrated self-experiences.

Ultimately, Kernberg’s work sheds light on the profound connection between early relational experiences, personality development, and the emotional turbulence that shapes adult functioning. By understanding the roots of anger and hatred, both patients and therapists can work together toward a path of healing, emotional growth, and the development of healthier interpersonal connections.