Abstract

FELICE, Eliana Marcello De. Transformation and “cure” through the experience of being a mother. Psyche (Sao Paulo) [online]. 2007, vol.11, n.21, pp.145-159. ISSN 1415-1138.

Psychoanalytical studies on maternity show the important influence of the woman’s relationship with maternal figure upon the emotional experience related to the performance of the maternal care. Past conflictive and unhappy relationships with her own mother are usually the basis of intense anguishes experienced by the woman in her maternal role. Through the analysis of a case of a woman in her first experience of maternity, this paper aims to demonstrate that, in spite of this influence, it is possible that maternity works as a changing psychological experience and being able to promote a “curative” result to the mother, helping her to partially resolve past conflicts with her own mother. The case exemplifies that maternity can act as a “corrective emotional experience”.

Keywords : Maternity; Mother-child relations; Corrective emotional experience; Longitudinal studies; Psychoanalysis.

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