Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy

I have chosen to evaluate three theories. Differential Association Theory, Anomie Theory and Social Disorganization Theory in my analysis of this subject.

The Social Disorganization Theory is somewhat similar, but focuses on society as a cause for deviance in people. The study in Atlanta shows us that 58% of mother offenders are involved in distant relationships or marriages. It is possible that these offenders see a way out of this stress by finding a reward in the illness of the child and getting the father to spend more time with them as a family. Fathers are blue collared workers and often find themselves in economic hardship, having to work double shifts and a lot of overtime to make ends meet. The presence of an unsatisfactory father may be an important reason for the mother to invent factitious illness in her child because she may be hungry for attention and an immediate source of support, as is created through the network of medical staff encountered during the child’s hospitalizations. The onset of Munchausen syndrome can be triggered by feeling rejected or abandoned, a sudden change in lifestyle (such as marriage or the birth of a child), the death of a loved one, and/or other factors like preexisting depression. This theory would likely blame society’s acceptance of divorce and homosexuality for the syndrome in mothers.

Harm can be inflicted by any means which leaves little or no forensic evidence, such as restricting breathing by holding a hand over the mouth, fingers over the nostrils, lying on top of the baby, smothering, placing plastic or cling film over the person's face, withholding food, withholding medicine or over-medicating or medicating when unnecessary, or by delaying calling for medical assistance when an emergency arises. When the victim reacts with a fit, breathing difficulties, collapse etc, the MSBP sufferer can - after ensuring the condition is sufficiently life-threatening - rush to the rescue and later be hailed as a hero for being such a wonderful, kind, caring, compassionate person for having saved this person's life.

The term Social Disorganization Theory refers to a state of society that produces deviance. It emphasizes that crime may derive as a result of the lack of attachments to institutions, such as a history of family abuse, poor parental relationships, and weak family structure.

In this paper, I will address three areas concerning Munchausen’s Suyndrome by Proxy in regard to mother who victimize their children. First, I will describe the case studies that help us understand the act as it takes place. Second, I will discuss various theories that have been or may be applied to the cause. Third, I will attempt to analyze the application of those theories to the syndrome based on the information that has been collected from studies in the area. Finally, I will conclude with a final thought on the cause of the syndrome in mothers.

Some topics in this essay:
Proxy MSBP, Disorganization Theory, Strain Theory, Kahan Yorker, Atlanta Georgia, Munchausen’s Syndrome, Syndrome Proxy, MSBP Forty-one, Schreier Libow, Anomie Theory, munchausen syndrome, syndrome proxy, munchausen syndrome proxy, social disorganization, covert video surveillance, differential association, anomie theory, association theory, illness child, strain theory, differential association theory, msbp sufferer, social disorganization theory, munchausen’s syndrome, kahan yorker 1991,