Stymied in your personal or professional relationships? According to clinical psychologist Poulter, chances are you are suffering fallout from the Mother Factor. Although fathers play a significant role in a child’s well-being, the author argues that our first emotional bond is with our mothers and the nature of that first bond serves as the foundation for future behavioral patterns. A series of quizzes allows readers to identify which of the five mothering styles their mother used most and demonstrate how that style affects the way they relate to others. Whether your mother was primarily a perfectionist, unpredictable, me first, complete, or best friend, that style continues to affect the way you interact, often negatively with her and others. Poulter insists it is necessary to become aware of the impact this first relationship has on how we interact with others and revise that inner dialog to become a more positive influence on our lives.
Long on repetition, Poulter fails to provide genuine solutions to the complex, deep-seated emotional issues surrounding parenting beyond that of positive affirmations to back up recognition of your mother’s programming. The more problematic issues like abandonment or severe abuse are largely ignored or glossed over as being a part of the five main styles listed above which will disappoint readers attempting to come to terms with and overcome the fallout from their past. Regrettably, The Mother Factor is over simplified to the point of being ineffectual.
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