Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This study was designed to investigate whether individuals with neurodermatitis would demonstrate in their fantasies and conscious descriptions of parent-child interactions specific patterns of parent-child relationships not shown to be present to a significant degree in either a group of symptom-free control subjects or a group of emotionally disturbed subjects, without psychosomatic disorders. The hypotheses of the study were stated in tenus of testable predictions. The first prediction was that neurodermatitis, as represented by a sample of college student patients, is associated with fantasies of high maternal Affection and Control, and with fantasies of low paternal Affection and Control. The second prediction was that neurodermatitis, as represented by a sample of college student: patients, is associated with the conscious reporting of high maternal Casual and Loving behavior, and with the conscious reporting of high paternal Demanding behavior [TRUNCATED]. / 2031-01-01