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The Medea Complex: The Mother's Homicidal Wishes to her Child

1948; Royal College of Psychiatrists; Volume: 94; Issue: 395 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1192/bjp.94.395.321

2514-9946

E. S. Stern,

Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

A Complex is a group of emotionally invested ideas that have unconscious activities. Contrary though it be to the popular and sentimental idea of an overriding mother love, it is common, especially in child psychiatry, to find a mother's lively hatred and even homicidal wishes towards her child. I consider that this should be called “The Medea Complex.”