A defense mechanism in which a person views others and situations in all-or-nothing terms — as entirely good or entirely bad, with no middle ground.
From Old English 'splittan' (to divide). Psychoanalytic concept prominent in object relations theory and borderline personality disorder.
Splitting is black-and-white thinking about people — someone is either your hero or your villain, with nothing in between. One disappointment flips them from angel to enemy.
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