Traumatic conditions in the mother-child relationship

Abstract

We tried to discuss Trauma according to Winnicott, related to the central Idea of his thought, based on the maturational process, to which some ideas are added, such as: facilitating environment, good enough mother, invasion, annihilation anxiety and reactions that promote defenses of isolation on the true self. All this inside the primitive emotional development, beginning from a non-integrated state of self in direction to integration, personalization and me-not me separation. "The concept of trauma arises as a consequence of the baby's immaturity and of the degree of protection that the environment can give, so that the child do not face unexpected distress (nameless and annihilation anxiety)". In order to produce the Trauma, a repetitive character of invasions and a chaotic environmental behavior are needed, preventing the establishment of a pattern of expectations in the child. On the other side, certain invasions which cease and permit the retrieval of the "going on being" of the child act as "good traumas", arising in a moment in which the environmental cares have already been internalized and the ego has power to live these surprises out of its omnipotent control, and that takes to the recognition of the not-me reality.