Main description:

Text in German. Division, ambivalence and integration are discussed as relevant forms of psychological processing and defense mechanisms in clinical-therapeutic and psychosocial work based on numerous case studies and current social and societal challenges (aging, migration). It becomes clear that the inner soul division processes, which often block developmental progress, can temporarily be necessary for survival in difficult development phases. The phenomenon of ambivalence, often interpreted in everyday language as an expression of weakness, proves to be a constructive ability. It is about developing tolerance towards uncertainty and ambiguity and dealing with opposing thoughts, feelings and behavioral tendencies. The ability to integrate contradictions can be understood as a measure of therapeutic success and as a sign of mental health and mental maturity.