The Cause of BPD: The Biosocial Model

G. Pacana

3/2/20244 min read

biosocial
biosocial

“To a large degree, a particular collision of genes and temperament with a suboptimal or hostile environment may explain the development of borderline personality disorder.” ― Dolores Mosquerae

When it comes to the question of what causes borderline personality disorder, the truth is we just don't know for certain. Like many other psychiatric conditions, the exact cause of BPD is still somewhat of a mystery. We do have some excellent evidence-based theories but no single theory can explain all cases of BPD and for every theory, there are plenty of individuals that seem to be exceptions.

However, today most mental health professionals favor the biosocial model as proposed by Dr. Marsha Lineman for explaining the cause of BPD. Lineman's biosocial model explains the development of borderline personality disorder as a complex interaction between biological predispositions and environmental factors. Biosocial refers to two elements coming together; in the case of BPD, these elements are a biological vulnerability (bio) along with environmental factors experienced by a child during early childhood (social).

Linehan believes that individuals who develop BPD have several biological deficits which are the precursors for an individual in developing BPD, but only if they have been exposed to a certain type of early childhood environment. And even if both of these things hold it still is not a guarantee that an individual will develop BPD.

The biosocial theory points to three genetic or biological vulnerabilities that contribute to the development of BPD:

  1. Heightened emotional sensitivity and difficulties in returning to emotional baseline states

  2. Marked increases in impulsivity

  3. Difficulty regulating one’s emotions in the normal way (emotional dysregulation)

According to the biosocial model for BPD, these three biological vulnerabilities interact with a child's environment and can result in the development of BPD. For Lineman, the type of early environment that seems to activate these biological precursors and lead to the development of BPD is an environment marked by parental invalidation.

Research has shown that people with BPD were often exposed to invalidating environments where their emotions, thoughts, and experiences were dismissed, negated, or criticized. Invalidation of a child by a parent or caregiver can lead to feelings of worthlessness, self-doubt, and confusion, hindering emotional regulation, sense of identity, and ability to form stable relationships.

The following are examples of emotional invalidation:

1. Ignoring or Ridiculing a Child's Emotions: In an invalidating environment, caregivers may ignore, ridicule, or dismiss a child's emotions, conveying the message that their feelings are wrong or inappropriate.

2. Minimizing Emotional Responses: Statements like "Don't be such a baby" or "Stop crying, it's not a big deal" can invalidate a child's emotional reactions, leading them to believe that their emotions are excessive or unwarranted.

3. Judging Emotions as Wrong: Labeling emotions as dumb, bad, or stupid can instill a sense of shame and self-doubt in individuals growing up in an invalidating environment.

4. Lack of Emotional Support: Children in invalidating environments may not receive adequate emotional support or guidance in dealing with their feelings, causing them to mistrust their emotions and struggle with emotional expression.


Additional examples of invalidation include:

  • Minimizing the child's achievements: Downplaying a child's accomplishments can make them feel like their efforts are not valued.

  • Labeling the child negatively: Using derogatory labels or name-calling can deeply impact a child's self-esteem and sense of worth.

  • Punishing emotional expression: Punishing a child for expressing their emotions can teach them that their feelings are not valid or important.

  • Denying the child's reality: Dismissing or denying a child's experiences or perceptions can make them feel misunderstood and invalidated.

  • Gaslighting the child: Gaslighting involves manipulating a child into doubting their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences, leading to profound invalidation.

  • Withholding affection or love as punishment: Using love and affection as leverage to control a child's behavior can create feelings of unworthiness and invalidation.

  • Setting unrealistic expectations: Expecting perfection or setting unattainable standards can make children feel like they can never measure up, leading to feelings of inadequacy and invalidation.

  • Ignoring the child's needs: Failing to meet a child's basic emotional, physical, or psychological needs can leave them feeling neglected and invalidated.

Emotional invalidation can have significant and lasting effects on a child's development and well-being. In addition to being a precursor to BPD, invalidation can have the following effects:

1. Low self-esteem: Constant emotional invalidation can make a child doubt their worth and value, leading to low self-esteem.

2. Mental health issues: Long-term emotional invalidation can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders in children.

3. Self-doubt: Children who are constantly invalidated may develop a pattern of self-doubt and second-guessing their thoughts and feelings.

4. People-pleasing behavior: To seek validation, some children may engage in people-pleasing behavior, sacrificing their own needs and boundaries.

5. Perfectionism: Emotional invalidation can contribute to the development of perfectionistic tendencies as children seek external validation through achievement.

These examples illustrate the devastating effect that invalidating environments can have on an individual's emotional experiences and contribute to the development of BPD. By understanding the impact of these environments, and implementing interventions like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) individuals with BPD learn to regulate their emotions, improve their self-perception, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

“Invalidation is about dismissing your experiences, thoughts and above all your emotions. Indeed the intention is to not even allow you to have those thoughts, experiences and emotions. It‟s a way of invading your head and reprogramming it. It‟s psychological abuse (messing with your thoughts) and emotional abuse (messing with your feelings).”

― Danu Morrigan

Source Material: borderlinepersonalitytreatment.com,ncbi.nlm.nih.gov