You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
In this essay an attempt has ben made to trace some of the effects of strabismus on personality development, symptoms, and character formation.
The major thesis has been that strabismus may affect the individual as a unique form of trauma because of certain pathophysiological effects. These may be complicated by the reactions of the individual's environment to the nature of the defect. Of crucial importance is the child's distrust of his own perceptions and the resulting mental confusion. These factors interact with and influence the unfolding of the libidinal drives and aggression, the choice of defense mechanisms, and certain aspects of ego and superego development and functioning. Of great significance is the fact that strabismus usually has its onset at two and a half to five years—a period when the child is confronted by a great variety of developmental tasks.