ABSTRACT
Dividing mental illness into four domains allows a "first cut" to be made in parsing the varieties of psychopathological phenomena. Those who are more psychobiologically vulnerable because of a constitutional weakness of the 2nd domain are more likely to undergo 1st domain reactions in the face of psychological pressure. Reactions of the 1st domain are rooted in maladaptive responses to the anxiety that is inherent in stressful life events and negative experiences. Alcohol abuse, drug abuse, too much or too little control over eating, abnormal sexual behavior, self-cutting, uncontrolled gambling and kleptomania are some of the 3rd domain defenses that a brittle self may command while attempting to lessen its pain. Conditions owing to arrested psychobiological development of the brain—autism, mental retardation and learning disabilities—come under the 4th domain because of the likely primary role of biology and in some instances of heredity in creating these conditions.
