The influence of domestic violence on the development of the attachment relationship between mother and young child.

Abstract

Eastern Michigan UniversityThis paper uses a case study from a longitudinal research project to illustrate theinsuence of domestic violence on the developing attachment relationship be-tween mother and child that begins during pregnancy. The case study illustratesparticular mechanisms involved in damaging the motherÐchild relationship inthe context of domestic violence, including maternal projection, projectiveidentiÞcation, as well as emotional dysregulation and dissociation. The paperincludes quotes from the Working Model of the Child interviews (Zeanah &Benoit, 1995) conducted with the mother during pregnancy and at the childOs 1stbirthday as well as descriptions of observed motherÐchild interactions andStrange Situation paradigms (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) atages 1 and 4. The trajectory of this particular motherÐchild dyad is interpretedin the context of theory and research on the caregiving and attachment relation-ship and the effects of domestic violence on women and children. The discus-sion includes both theoretical and clinical implications for the insuence ofdomestic violence on the early and developing motherÐchild relationship.Keywords: domestic violence, internal representations, mother-child relation-ships, attachment