Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and perversion of the maternal instinct

Abstract

The key to understanding full-blown Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) is in the recognition that unconscious processes are operating. MSBP mothers are psychotic at the core of their personalities. They have, deep in their internal object world, an aspect of their relationship with their own mothers. This traumatic, psychotic core, perhaps experienced at a pre-verbal phase of development, has become split off and encapsulated. Early childhood trauma, passively experienced by the mother whose own mother displayed perverse and perverting attitudes towards her, mobilizes a perversion of the maternal instinct in adulthood when she herself becomes a mother or is in the role of nurse or carer, occupying a maternal role.

Key Words:

• Munchausen
• perversion
• maternal
• murderousness
• countertransference
• containment