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Victim-victimizer relational dynamics as maintained by representational, defensive, and neurobiological functioning
Richard J Holigrocki1, Robbi Hudson-Crain
1University of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. rholigrocki@uindy.edu
Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic
|September 3, 2004
Summary
This study explores the cycle of victim-victimizer dynamics between a mother and son, revealing how relational patterns and psychopathology are transmitted across generations through psychological and neurobiological mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neurobiology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Victim-victimizer dynamics can be perpetuated across generations.
- Understanding the cognitive-affective and neurobiological underpinnings is crucial.
Observation:
- A 26-year-old mother and her 9-year-old son were observed during a play task.
- Thematic structures and psychopathology were inferred from projective and objective assessments.
Findings:
- Parent-child interactional cycles foster victim-victimizer dynamics.
- Interpersonal, psychological, and neurobiological processes maintain these relational patterns.
Implications:
- This research sheds light on the intergenerational transmission of relational psychopathology.
- Findings can inform therapeutic interventions for families exhibiting these dynamics.