?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=The+Image+of+the+Mother's+Eye%3A+a+Possible+Link+between++Early+Narcissistic+Injury++and+Autism&rft.creator=McDowell%2C+Maxson&rft.subject=Clinical+Psychology&rft.description=At+six+weeks+an+infant+makes+eye-contact+with+the+mother+thereby+stimulating+her+%C2%91containing%C2%92+behavior+(she+meets+and+regulates+her+infant%C2%92s+needs).+Eye-contact+enables+the+subsequent+development+of+intersubjectivity.+To+accomplish+reliable+eye-contact%2C+the+infant+must+acquire+an+image+of+the+mother%C2%92s+eyes.+Once+acquired%2C+this+image+becomes+associated+with+containment.+The+acquisition+of+this+image+is+therefore+a+crucial+very-early+step+in+psychological+development.+Evidence+for+these+assertions+comes+from+(1)+analyses+of+patients+with+early+narcissistic+injuries%2C+(2)+the+evolutionary+development+of+the+appearance+of+the+primate+eye+and+of+its+signaling+function%2C+(3)+experiments+on+infant+visual+preferences%2C+and+(4)+observation+of+nursing+mothers.+Existing+developmental+models+have+not+addressed+the+acquisition+of+the+image+of+the+eye.%0AA+variety+of+biological+predispositions+or+injuries%2C+together+with+congenital+blindness+and+severe+infant+deprivation%2C+all+increase+the+risk+of+failure+to+acquire+this+image.+The+likely+result+is+a+pervasive+cascade+of+developmental+failure.+Failure+to+acquire+this+image+might%2C+therefore%2C+represent+the+primary+deficit+in+autism.+Like+narcissism+and+neurosis%2C+the+primary+deficit+in+autism+may+be+psychological.+This+model+suggests+that+autism+may+be+investigated+via+the+analyses+of+high-functioning+patients+with+mild+autistic+symptoms.+&rft.publisher=The+Institute+of+Psychoanalysis%2C+London&rft.contributor=Gabbard%2C+Glen&rft.contributor=Williams%2C+Paul&rft.date=2001&rft.type=Journal+(Paginated)&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=text%2Fplain&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F2225%2F1%2Fnarcissism_and_autism_archive_version.txt&rft.identifier=++McDowell%2C+Maxson++(2001)+The+Image+of+the+Mother's+Eye%3A+a+Possible+Link+between+Early+Narcissistic+Injury+and+Autism.++%5BJournal+(Paginated)%5D++++(Unpublished)++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F2225%2F