The emergence of assertion and aggression during infancy: a psychoanalytic systems approach
1Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts.
Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Assertion and aggression stem from distinct infant biopsychological systems. Parental punishment of assertion can contaminate these systems, creating a false impression of spontaneous aggression.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Biopsychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Assertion arises from a self-activating system linked to positive affect.
- Aggression originates from a reactive self-protective system associated with negative affect.
Observation:
- Infants' assertions may be punitively treated as aggression by parents.
- This punitive response can lead to a perceived threat and trigger self-protective aggression.
Findings:
- A model is presented where assertion and aggression are distinct biopsychological systems.
- Parental reactions can contaminate these systems, leading to aggression appearing self-activating.
- Systemic explanation better fits observations than instinctual aggression theories.
Implications:
- Understanding these distinct systems aids in interpreting infant behavior.
- This model helps differentiate between genuine aggression and contaminated assertion.
- It offers insights into family dynamics influencing child development and emotional regulation.
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