The Childfree Phenomenon in the Psychoanalytical Paradigm

The phenomenon of childfree today is an actual discussion topic, which not only causes a lot of controversy, but also affects the development of the society and the state. Now there are no large-scale studies and studies of women choosing a conscious renunciation of maternity in favor of other, more important goals. Considering the topicality of the subject matter, the goal is to study the phenomenon of childfree and its reflection in the works of representatives of different schools of psychoanalysis, taking into account, among other things, the contemporary attitude to this phenomenon. The study examined the work of the largest representatives of the psychoanalytic school of the past and present, analyzed information indicating that to some extent the woman's refusal to have children can be associated with a psychological trauma. Early psychoanalysts led by Sigmund Freud held the view that the relationship with the father in the oedipal phase had a special impact on the development of the child. In the works of Z. Freud little is said about motherhood, but in the works of his followers, especially women psychoanalysts, this subject is given enough attention. Z. Freud himself believed that the rejection of women from their feminine nature, its desire for a career, feminism and competition with men lies in the "masculinity complex," as a consequence of the castration complex. In modern psychoanalysis, an important role is played by psychoanalysts of feminist orientation, who continue to develop earlier theories about the influence of the mother on the formation of the child's personality. The phenomenon of "childfree" began to be fully described only in the last half of the 20th century, so at the moment this topic is full of questions without answers. There is a need for new research that can reveal the veil of secrecy over psychological mechanisms that encourage people, especially women, to have a child.