Psyche (Germany)
Volume 70, Issue 9-10, 2016, Pages 949-976

Early parenthood in traumatized migrants and refugees and the transgenerational consequences: Psychoanalytic thoughts on prevention [Frühe Elternschaft bei traumatisierten Migranten und Geflüchteten und ihre transgenerativen Folgen] (Review)

Leuzinger-Bohleber M. , Rickmeyer C. , Lebiger-Vogel J. , Fritzemeyer K. , Tahiri M. , Hettich N.
  • a Sigmund-Freud-Institut, Myliusstr. 20, Frankfurt/M., 60323, Germany
  • b Sigmund-Freud-Institut, Myliusstr. 20, Frankfurt/M., 60323, Germany
  • c Sigmund-Freud-Institut, Myliusstr. 20, Frankfurt/M., 60323, Germany
  • d Sigmund-Freud-Institut, Myliusstr. 20, Frankfurt/M., 60323, Germany
  • e Sigmund-Freud-Institut, Myliusstr. 20, Frankfurt/M., 60323, Germany
  • f Sigmund-Freud-Institut, Myliusstr. 20, Frankfurt/M., 60323, Germany

Abstract

Research findings from neighboring disciplines have handsomely borne out the psychoanalytic conviction that the experiences a child undergoes in the first few weeks/months of its life lay the foundations for its further psychic and psychosocial development. In terms of evolutionary biology, the system of mirror neurons and other genetically determined abilities provide expecting parents with a good basis for an empathie response to their babies' needs. While, as many studies have confirmed, empathy is a ubiquitous human feature that in the course of evolution has proved to be a survival asset, it is at the same-time highly «accident-prone.» Stress, excessive strain, and traumatic situations of the kind many migrants have been through can cause parents to lose empathy for their babies/children (and themselves) with disastrous consequences for the way they experience themselves as parents and above all for their children's development. The parents' traumas are passed on to the next generation as a result of the failure of early parenthood to achieve «adequate quality.» Accordingly, psychoanalytically oriented prevention projects like «Erste Schritte» («First Steps») or «Step-by-Step» set out to provide professional support for young parents bringing up their children under stressful and traumatic conditions. Alongside practical assistance, one of the main aims is to nurture/encourage their capacity for empathy and mentalization. The authors illustrate this concern with reference to a number of example cases.

Author Keywords

Transgenerativity Early parenthood empathy traumatization early prevention

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84988735654&partnerID=40&md5=8a3b42834df27a0f1eb13def40cbafc0
ISSN: 00332623
Cited by: 3
Original Language: German