Viewing Oneself and Relating to Others Case 9: Violence Potential in a Man Who Had to Have

Being able to view oneself in favorable and thoroughways thatmaintain adequate self-esteem, promote positive regard, enhance self-awareness, and foster a stable sense of identity are personality assets that contribute to good psychological adjustment. Conversely, as elaborated in chapter 5, negative self-attitudes and an insufficient grasp of the kind of person one is constitute adaptive liabilities thatmakepeople susceptible to adjustmentdifficulties. In relating to others, adequate capacities to become comfortably involved, to anticipate intimacy and security, and to be appropriately collaborative and assertive characterize goodadjustment. Conversely, disinterest, discomfort, disengagement, distrust, and excessive dominance or passivity in interpersonal relationships typically pave the way for disappointment, discontent, and psychological disorder.