André-Fustier, Francine

Identifications with the Different Other and Dehumanizing Projections - 2011.


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A baby builds his/her identity by differentiating the human environment from the non-human environment (mineral, vegetal, animal) with the help of a good primary environment, i.e. sufficiently stable and in continuity with her/his own needs. When there is a rupture in this environment (sever somatic disorders, hospitalization), the baby attempts to maintain contact with the non-human elements of his/her environment. This can engender serious pathologies, which result in a de-differentiation animate/non-animate or human/non-human. The persons to whom the baby transmits his/her anxieties, should not enclose the baby in his/her animal or more general human manifestations (or behaviours).