Identification with the Aggressor in the Abused Child: A Clinical Psychological Study of Three Cases

Abstract

   The aim of this study is to identify the mechanisms of identification with the aggressor and interpret it analytically in abused children. It focuses on two variables: "identification with the aggressor" and "the abused child," using a clinical approach with a case study technique. It includes a theoretical aspect to elaborate on theoretical concepts by adopting an analytical theory, and an applied aspect to present the topic in the field and make the study tangible in real-life settings. We used tools such as interviews, observations, and the Children's Apperception Test (C.A.T) to reinforce information obtained during interviews with three selected cases, that all of them are males, deliberately chosen from educational institution – Middle School – with ages between 10 to and 12 years old, from the first year of the middle school. The findings of the study revealed that children who have been abused often exhibit aggressive behaviors similar to those of the aggressor, termed "reproducing the same aggressive behavior." Even if the behavior changes, they may still display aggressive tendencies, referred to as "identification with the aggressor."