The Behavior of Mothers of Normals, Neurotics, and Schizophrenics

Kallman stresses heredity in schizophrenia & Jenkins points to environment as important in bringing withdrawal. This is not heredity vs environment, but suggests interaction. This paper focuses on one environment factor: behavior of mothers of neurotics, normals, & schizophrenics toward their children. Normals are drawn from liberal arts, ethnically & religiously diverse S's; neurotics & schizophrenics from case records. 3 criteria for selection of all cases are: unbroken childhood home, native born white, & adequate information. 4 descriptive categories are used for mother behavior: (1) demanding-antagonistic, (2) superficial, (3) encouraging, & (4) protective-indulgent. It is concluded that: (i) mothers of F's were regular in pattern: mothers of normal F's were encouraging, of neurotics demanding-antagonistic, of schizophrenics superficial; (ii) mothers of M normals were encouraging whereas those of neurotics & schizophrenics were mostly protective-indulgent (Oedipal interpretation); (iii) F normals viewed their mothers more as encouraging than M normals; (iv) F neurotics reported their mothers more as demanding-antagonistic & M neurotics saw them as protective-indulgent (Freudian interpretation); (v) soc relations of neurotics & schizophrenics are signif'ly negative with mothers. Which comes first, biologic factors or environment - neither seems the total answer. D. N. Barrett.