Stereotypical mother figure for an individual exhibiting schizophrenia, generally described as cold, rejecting, emotionally disturbed, perfectionist, domineering, and lacking in sensitivity. Conversely, she is also described as being overprotective, encouraging dependence, and both rigidly moral and seductive. Held to play a causal role in schizophrenic development, this view has become outdated. See also: schizophrenogenic parents.
SCHIZOPHRENOGENIC MOTHER: "Schizophrenogenic mother is a term first defined in 1948 by German-born U.S. psychiatrist Frieda Fromm-Reichmann (1889-1957)."
Cite this page: N., Sam M.S., "SCHIZOPHRENOGENIC MOTHER," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 28, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/schizophrenogenic-mother/ (accessed March 20, 2023).
