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Article
April 1960

SR-2: Affect Autonomy in Schizophrenia

Author Affiliations

Chicago
Professorial lecturer, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Chicago, and the Division of Psychiatry, Michael Reese Hospital.

AMA Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1960;2(4):408-420. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1960.03590100048005
Abstract

Of the six reaction patterns that we isolated in the Michael Reese Hospital researches in schizophrenia,1 an identifying feature in SR-2 is that it employs one, but not the other, of Bleuler’s two “primary processes.”2 In their affectivity the patients who follow this pattern are pathologic; in their intellectual life they are integrated. Their emotions are frequently in a high ferment, in labile mobilization, and at such times dominate the person’s total behavior. At times the patient overresponds; at others he underresponds; i.e., in either event, he responds inappropriately. Motor discharges may be excessive, purposeless; or take the form of a persistent unrest. While in this state the patient is unable to postpone a satisfaction or an expression of feelings which may be asocial or antisocial. The range of feeling release is restricted to the irritability-impulsivity level.

Yet these patients are in the main accurate in

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