The schizophrenogenic mother
- The schizophrenogenic mother (SM) explanation of schizophrenia (Fromm-Reichmann, 1948) has at its basis (you guessed it) the idea that a toxic, negative, dysfunctional mother is a major (if not the) factor in her child’s development of schizophrenia
- The SM theory depends as well on the passive, ineffectual nature/behaviour of the father as another key factor
- The SM is a psychodynamic explanation of schizophrenia as it is based on a patient’s current internal conflict having its roots in aversive childhood experience
- The SM is cold,rejecting and controlling and creates a family atmosphere which is characterised by tension and secrecy
- This toxic behaviour from the SM is theorised to lead to distrust, paranoia delusions and ultimately to the development of schizophrenia in the child
The schizophrenogenic mother: just another example of a misogynistic stereotype?