The Munchausen Complex: Socialization of Violence and Abuse

Socialization of violence and abuse is highly structured through the Munchausen Complex.

Munchausen Syndrome occurs when an individual harms themselves for attention and self-glorification.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is when an individual harms another, usually under their care. Attention and self-glorification are achieved through their victim's subsequent medical treatment. Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is a crime with a victim.

Violence and abuse are sometimes common in families, passed down from one generation to the next and may be termed Transgenerational Munchausen Syndrome as these families expand and their habits are introduced into society.

Munchausen Syndrome in Collective Transmission occurs when such practices become an acceptable part of society often eventuating into full acculturation. In this way societies attach themselves to self-glorification with various explanations of justification. The result is Societal Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation.

Munchausen Syndrome in Social Transference is the identity transference of the self into a social group that practices forms of Munchausen behavior.

A Mandated Report is required to be filed by health care, legal, social service and educational professionals who suspect child abuse, as well as by developers of film.

As social beings, we are often unaware why we think what we think and why we do what we do. Exploring beneath the surface, we may discover we are not who we imagine we are. Are our subtle perversions and aberrations so different from those of the ancients, or other cultures we label primitive?