The heuristic value of caregivers’ precursors of infant disorganisation, for the identification childhood prejudice/Il valore euristico dei precursori genitoriali della disorganizzazione infantile per l’identificazione delle situazioni di pregiudizio per il minore

The present contribution aims at answering to the issue of what can signs of infant disorganization, frequently observed in juridical context, reveal us about the dyad’s affective functioning and of the caregiving environ- ment. Specifically, attention will be focused on caregivers’ frightening/frightened behaviors (Fr) and helpless/hostile mental state (H/H), which, although do not overlap with clear forms of abuse, maltreatment and severe neglect, are to be considered as signs of parental dysfunction and precursors of attachment disorganization.