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Margo and me. Gender as a cause and solution to unmet needs
1Boston University School of Medicine, Faculty, Adult and Child Psychoanalysis, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, USA.
The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child
|February 26, 2004
Summary
This study details a six-year treatment for a child experiencing identity confusion. The child
Area of Science:
- Child psychology
- Psychoanalytic theory
Background:
- A five-and-a-half-year-old child, Margo, struggled with attention deficits and sought to reconcile feelings of inadequacy.
- Margo's older brothers received more attention, leading to feelings of neglect and a desire for repair.
Observation:
- Margo adopted a bi-gender identity as a coping mechanism to address feelings of neglect and a fragmented sense of self.
- This gender exploration occurred before a stable gender identity could form, necessitating therapeutic intervention.
Findings:
- The analytic treatment focused on facilitating Margo's development and achieving ego integration of feelings and object relations.
- Margo's bi-gender identity served as a critical defense, addressing narcissistic injury, managing extreme emotions, and preventing ego disintegration.
Implications:
- This case highlights the complex interplay between early childhood experiences, identity formation, and psychological defense mechanisms.
- Understanding such developmental pathways is crucial for effective psychoanalytic treatment in pediatric populations.