title: The instrumental and the focal child: two patterns of parent-child dynamics in separation-impeding families.
abstract: This study has discussed two distinct relational patterns which can occur between parents suffering from a narcissistic disturbance and their children: the instrumental and the focal child syndromes. Individual and intergenerational dynamics were examined. The typical outcomes for the child were outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, MA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Broembsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004243:Divorce; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D012649:Self Concept