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Suicide and Infantile Fixations
Author(s) -
Richman Joseph
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1980.tb00692.x
Subject(s) - psychology , anxiety , fixation (population genetics) , hatred , suicidal behavior , phenomenon , developmental psychology , poison control , suicide prevention , medicine , psychiatry , medical emergency , population , environmental health , politics , political science , law , physics , quantum mechanics
Infantile fixations upon primary parental figures and relationships is one of several features central to the suicidal situation. The association of infantile fixations to suicidal behavior relates not only to their presence or degree but to their traumatic quality and to the occurrence of patterns of relationship with others who are similarly fixated. Other significant features of such infantile fixations are their rigid and repetitive character. Case illustrations highlight both the infantile fixation phenomenon and efforts to change by forming new or different attachments, and the conflict between the two. Lastly, implications for psychotherapy include the needs to reduce anxiety and self hatred associated with infantile ties; to provide a temporary regression as a first step towards transformation of fixation and mastery; and to accept, rather than to attack, the suicidal patient's infantile attachments and patterns.