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[Pathological protective and defensive reactions in early childhood]

Selma Fraiberg

    Praxis Der Kinderpsychologie Und Kinderpsychiatrie
    |November 19, 2003
    PubMed

    Insights

    Infants experiencing extreme danger develop pathological defenses like avoidance, freezing, and fighting, mirroring the biological fight-or-flight response. These early coping mechanisms emerge before ego development, transforming pain into pleasure or oblivion.

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental psychology
    • Infant psychopathology
    • Neurobiology of early trauma

    Background:

    • Understanding early childhood development is crucial for identifying atypical behavioral patterns.
    • Extreme early-life stress can profoundly impact an infant's psychological and biological systems.

    Observation:

    • Pathological defense mechanisms were observed in infants aged 3-18 months exposed to severe danger and deprivation.
    • These defenses include avoidance, freezing, and fighting behaviors.

    Findings:

    • The observed infant defenses appear to be biologically rooted, analogous to the innate "flight or fight" response.
    • In pre-ego development, intense pain can be psychologically converted into pleasure or erased from awareness, with symptoms representing the underlying conflict.

    Implications:

    • These findings highlight the profound impact of early trauma on infant psychological defenses.
    • Understanding these early pathological defenses is vital for timely intervention and support in at-risk infants.
    • This research provides insights into the nascent stages of psychological defense formation and pain processing.

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