Projection as a self-defense mechanism of the psyche is a feature of Borderline personality disorder, so we should explore the possibility that Dean’s on-going trauma might have triggered it in him. There appears to be a connection between Borderline personality and PTSD, a childhood trauma and loss of caregivers in early childhood serving as contributing factors in the development of the disorder (“There is a strong correlation between child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, and development of BPD. Many individuals with BPD report a history of abuse and neglect as young children”).
Symptoms of BPD feature a pattern of impulsivity and instability of behaviours (“Impulsive behavior is common, including substance or alcohol abuse, eating disorders, unprotected sex or indiscriminate sex with multiple partners, reckless spending, and reckless driving”), interpersonal relationships and self-image (“difficulty knowing what they value, believe, prefer, and enjoy”), intense fear of abadonment, anger and irritability, both idealization (”He doesn’t have relationships. He has applications for sainthood”) and devalution of other people, sensitivity to rejection and criticism, all of which is classic Dean. Substance abuse is also commonly found in association with the condition.
Interesting is also that problem solving, using the brain’s executive functions (working cases) seems to alleviate the symptoms.
“Specifically, those with borderline personality disorder are more likely to exhibit greater sexual preoccupation, have earlier sexual exposure, engage in casual sexual relationships, report a greater number of different sexual partners as well as promiscuity, and engage in homosexual experiences.”
“these authors emphasized the phenomenon of “pan-sexuality” (i.e.,
all-embracing sexuality), which encompassed promiscuity, “polymorphous
perverse sexual practices,” and heterosexual/homosexual vacillation.“
Subjects with BPD were significantly more likely than comparison
subjects to report homosexual or bisexual orientation and intimate
same-sex relationships. There were no significant differences between
male and female borderline subjects in prevalence of reported homosexual
or bisexual orientation or in prevalence of reported same-sex
relationships. … Results of this study suggest that same-gender
attraction and/or intimate relationship choice may be an important
interpersonal issue for approximately one-third of both men and women
with BPD.
“Though it hasn’t been studied, there is a sense among doctors that many
patients tend to be attractive, which can trigger a vicious cycle. Being beautiful induces the world
to treat you like an object, which naturally gives rise to questions
about whether you are loveable, which in turn makes you long for
confirmation.“
Granted, Dean Winchester is a character, and a composite of many authors at that, but all in all his characterization seems to offer us a rather holistic picture of someone suffering from borderline personality due to childhood trauma. Also, Dean is bisexual. It’s science.
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