The Importance of Early Habits and Character Traits

The emphasis on early habits and character traits being formed through childhood is almost reminiscent of Aristotle's view about how we develop as moral beings. People with personality disorders precisely haven't had that kind of early environment which allows them to find a mean between extremes. Their emotional and behavioral responses to particular situations are always wildly out of sync with what we would expect. We hold them responsible for that behavior and the clinical aim is to help them do things differently. What we don't do is blame them for it. Rather we try to maintain an attitude of compassion.