VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN SUCCESSIVE GENERATION S - IDENTIFICATION OF AN ABUSED-CHILD

Violent behaviour is characterized by escalating psychic, interpersona l and social processes that are interrelated by feedback mechanisms. I n this paper, the case of a severely traumatized, abused and maltreate d 12-year-old boy is presented and relevant pathogenetic identificatio n processes are discussed that predispose to violent and abusive behav iour of the child her/himself towards others. The following factors ar e described: a lack of empathy within the child's relevant relationshi ps, an archaic distortion of the super-ego, an insecure quality of att achment, intrapsychic and interpersonal boundary disturbances, low lev el of self-esteem and disturbances in identity formation.