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Incest, Freud's seduction theory, and borderline personality
1Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Childhood incest experiences are linked to the development of borderline personality disorder (B.P.D.) in women. These early traumas can manifest in all clinical symptoms seen in B.P.D.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Psychoanalysis
Background:
- Sigmund Freud's early theories proposed childhood incest as a cause of hysteria.
- Freud later shifted focus to childhood sexual fantasies, but acknowledged actual incest in some psychopathology.
- Modern understanding links incest to subsequent borderline personality disorder (B.P.D.) development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the connection between childhood incest experiences and borderline personality disorder.
- To examine how incestuous experiences may underlie the clinical manifestations of B.P.D.
Main Methods:
- Review of psychoanalytic theories on hysteria and psychopathology.
- Analysis of contemporary clinical observations regarding B.P.D. and trauma.
Main Results:
- Freud's theories evolved, but he maintained a link between actual incest and psychopathology.
- Incestuous experiences are recognized as precursors to borderline disorders, particularly in women.
- All B.P.D. symptoms can be associated with prior incestuous experiences.
Conclusions:
- Childhood incest is a significant etiological factor in borderline personality disorder.
- Understanding the impact of incest is crucial for treating B.P.D. in affected women.