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INHIBITIONS
A Spectrum of Neurotic Styles
© Arnold Holtzman, Ph.D. (1997)
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A Morphological Representation of
Inhibitions:
In the photograph at the right the reader is asked
to note the very distinct deficiency in the length of the distal phalanges
of the middle and ring fingers. Note in particular the phalange encircled.
Compared to the development of the other phalanges of these same fingers the
shortness of the tip phalanges is seen as markedly pronounced.
Short distal phalanges may be a feature common to all of the fingers. In
the example presented here it is manifest in the middle and ring fingers
alone. For our purposes it is sufficient for this morphological construction
to appear on the middle finger alone for the clinician/therapist to identify
inhibitions as a psychical quantity in his, or her, client.
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Inhibitions as Neurotic Styles
Inhibitions may be defined as the conscious
repression of either a specific behavior, or a specific mode of
behavior. We may think of inhibitions, or neurotic styles, as relatively
symptomless ways of coping with anxieties. As a rule, however, these
"styles" would interfere with the efficiency, effectiveness, and general
ability of the individual to satisfy important personal needs.
The specific causal agency of the inhibition may not always be available
to consciousness. Its origins may, in fact, be in the person's earliest
preconscious developmental phases, or, alternatively, at later periods, but
with the material subject to such possible defenses as repression and
denial. The individual, however, would be very alert to his, or her,
enormous difficulty in executing a specific act, or behaving in a manner
more suitable and more appropriate to his, or her, age, intelligence, social
circumstances and general needs.
We would normally speak of a person manifesting inhibitions when this
conscious repression of behavior, or behaviors, may come at a serious cost
to this person's physical and/or social wellbeing. This person would
normally be resigned to suffering the realities which these inhibitions may
promote, and herein we would find the central difficulty which this
psychical construction poses for the therapist. The therapist may not always
find in his, or her, client a willing partner in the therapeutic program.
The distinctive shortness of the distal phalange of the medus, or middle,
finger will, in all instances, identify the presence of inhibition of one
order or another in the individual. We will be able to define four very
different orders of inhibition. What will distinguish between one order and
another will be the relative rigidity or flexibility of the fingers and the
general constitution of the palm itself. We will find it necessary to
distinguish between extreme rigidity of the fingers coupled with a marked
hardness and resistance to pressure of the palm itself, and extreme
flexibility with little if any resistance to pressure of the palm.
 Between these
extremes we would seek to distinguish between fingers somewhat less rigid
and palms which lend themselves to a moderate absorption of pressure, and
fingers which are very flexible on palms still very soft but falling short,
nevertheless, of the extreme noted in the earlier paragraph.
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The photograph at the right would identify #3 (see
below) where the fingers would display a high degree of flexibility.
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Listed in order of severity we may distinguish between the following
possibilities:
1) extreme rigidity of the fingers, and marked hardness of the palm,
2) fingers flexible to rigid with some flexibility of the palm,
3) fingers very flexible with marked softness and elasticity of the palm,
4) fingers and palms which offer no resistance at all to pressure.
Inhibition in Compliance/Submission
This individual would be unable to accept the authority or submit
comfortably to the will of another even if (for example) the nature of his,
or her, work environment demanded such compliance. These people may become
anxious and rebellious if required to comply, obey, and otherwise "go along"
with the dictates of others. We may presume that individuals manifesting
this mode of inhibition had learned that reliance on established ( generally
parental) authority leads only to heightened stresses and intolerable
frustration.
In this instance we would find the short distal phalange of the medus
finger coupled with an extreme rigidity and inflexibility of the fingers and
palm (#1).
Inhibition in Intimact/Trust
These individuals would be unable to invest true warmth or project a sense
of complete trust in their closest and most intimate partner relationships.
They generally find themselves overtaken by unusually strong anxieties when
encouraged to deepen their emotional commitments in any intimate mutual
relationship. An aloofness and distance would pervade the relationship
which, for this reason, would rarely be sustained over any great length of
time.
The short distal phalange of the middle finger would now be merged
with fingers and a palm displaying some measure of flexibility (#2).
Inhibition in Aggression/Assertion
Inhibitions in aggression and assertion would have these people suffer a
gross inability to take any initiatives to support whatever may be their
rightful due. Typically they would adopt a cooperative, agreeable and
forgiving stance feeling quite incapable of responding in a hostile manner
even when extremely provoked., Anger becomes stifled. By way of mundane
example, we may find this individual quite unable to bring to the attention
of a shopkeeper the fact that the monies he had given them as change was
short several dollars.
Professional literature makes reference at times to buried anger and
resentment which could lead to sudden outbursts of incredibly intense
violence.
The short distal phalange of the middle finger would now be merged
with fingers and a palm displaying considerable softness and flexibility (as
per #3).
Inhibition in Responsibility/Independence
Inhibitions in this context would have these people suffer a gross inability
to assume a reasonable measure of responsibility for their lives as adults.
The normal gravitation of the individual to self-automy and independence is
disturbed and effectively inhibited. Situations calling for assertions of
independence and statements of authority are occasions of intense stress and
anxiety for these people. Their profound helplessness is invariably the most
prominent facet of their interpersonal relationships.
In this instance we would find the short distal phalange of the middle
finger merged with fingers and a palm displaying a most extreme softness and
flexibility (as per #4). There would be virtually no resistance to pressure
either of the fingers or the palm.
© Arnold Holtzman, Ph.D. (1997)
The Holtzman Institute for Psychodiagnostic Chirology
po box 138, Yehud 56000
Israel
e-mail: holinst@pdc.co.il
website: http://www.pdc.co.il
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