The DOI matches its Crossref record; 2 of the 2 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Grandiosity, trauma and self
Abstract
Distortions and inversions of Kohut's phase of grandiosity play a major role in multi-generational patterns of child-abuse and neglect. Such families are considered ‘upside down’ in their organization: parents enact unmet needs for mirroring and grandiose assertion, while the child experiences anxiety and endures a split between defensive compliance and a turbulent, trauma-ridden inner life. Within the space of this lonely inner life, the child fixates on atavistic power fantasies and dreams of possessing or controlling its objects. Hence, distortions of power and grandiosity replicate themselves from one generation to the next. The therapeutic play of children from upside down families typically passes through four phases: 1) re-enactment of trauma vignettes; 2) restoration of appropriate grandiose and mirroring themes; 3)restoration of rudimentary empathic abilities and empathy longing; 4) the search for an appropriate parenting object. Psycho-analytically based play therapy is effective when combined with other interventions to stabilize the child's milieu.
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In the citing paper
“When children fail to meet their parents’ needs, they become the object of their anger.”
From Psychoanalytic Interventions with Abusive Parents: An Opportunity for Children’s Mental Health (2022) · cites this paper as [38]
In the citing paper
“Purcell [38], in agreement with Eldridge and Finnican [34], surmises that the reaction of abusive parents stems from failures and reversals in the early developmental stage of grandiosity because of the parent’s inability to engender in the child an initial feeling of omnipotence and gradual disillusions suitable for bearing the frustrations and limitations imposed by reality.”
From Psychoanalytic Interventions with Abusive Parents: An Opportunity for Children’s Mental Health (2022) · cites this paper as [38]
In the citing paper
“The latter, during his decade-long work at Children’s Charter with abused children, observed that these families are often described as “upside-down”, in that they are characterized by role reversal, projection, and disturbed attachment: parents re-enact the unmet needs of their own childhood while forcing their children to assume the role of those who must support their self-esteem.”
From Psychoanalytic Interventions with Abusive Parents: An Opportunity for Children’s Mental Health (2022) · cites this paper as [38]
Citations
Cites
(1969) · Cited by 18,340
Miller, A. M. (1981) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 127
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Kohut H., 1977, The Restoration of Self
- van der Kolk B. A., 1987, Psychological Trauma
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Psychoanalytic Interventions with Abusive Parents: An Opportunity for Children’s Mental Health
Rosso, A. M. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph192013015 · Cited by 1
“Purcell [38], in agreement with Eldridge and Finnican [34], surmises that the reaction of abusive parents stems from failures and reversals in the early developmental stage of grandiosity because of the parent’s inability to engender in the child an initial feeling of omnipotence and gradual disillusions suitable for…”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Purcell, W. J.
- Corresponding author
- Purcell, William J.
- Venue
- Journal of Child Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1996-04
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 112-127
- ISSN
- 0075-417X (ISSN-L)
- 1469-9370
- OpenAlex
- W2001426078
- Cited by
- 1
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Keywords
- grandiosity, Kohut, child abuse, mirroring, trauma, power fantasies, play therapy, therapeutic play, transgenerational transmission
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Cite CoChat for the checks on this page, and the paper for its own findings.
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- CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Grandiosity, trauma and self. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1080/00754179608254936
- The paper
- Purcell, W. J. (1996). Grandiosity, trauma and self. Journal of Child Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/00754179608254936
