Some Pathological Processes Set in Train by Early Mother-Child Separation

Abstract

It is charactersitic of mental ill-health that the individual's capacity to make continuous co-operative relations with others is impaired. In the psychoses and psychopathic conditions this is unmistakable; in the neuroses it is sometimes less so, and there are even neurotic patients who seem to be especially kind and co-operative. But we know that they only achieve this behaviour at great cost of effort, anxiety and guilt and that, if they break down, they can be very hostile and withdrawn.