ARAUJO, Conceição A. Serralha de. Autism in Winnicott’s maturation theory. Nat. hum. []. 2003, 5, 1, pp.39-58. ISSN 1517-2430.

The present text take as its base the individual maturation theory developed by Winnicott, uniting his thoughts and clinical practice with regard to the consequences of an interruption in maturation during the stage of absolute dependence: the experience of an unthinkable agony and the organization of defenses in the sense of invulnerability to the experience of said agony - autism. The hypothesis relates the etiology of autism to enviromental failures, also related to other types of psychosis, but that, in this case, are added to the uncounscious hatred of the mother to her baby. This enquiry pursues Winnicott's understanding of this maternal feeling, attention being drawn to the question of abandonment during maternity and the consequent need for emotional support, the latter being considered as an initial paternal role. In addition, the study seeks to present Winnicot's ideas related to the treatment of autistic children.

: Autism; Unthinkable agony; Invulnerability; Uncounscious hatred; Abandonment during maternity.

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