Wound of Injustice (Bourbeau)

The wound of injustice is the fifth and final wound in the Bourbeau model. It originates between 4 and 6 years of age, during the period when the child develops a sense of justice and rules. The wound occurs when the parent of the same sex —according to the model— appears emotionally rigid, cold, overly demanding, giving the sensation that 'nothing is enough.'

Typical biographical origin: emotionally closed, demanding, perfectionist parent of the same sex, who valued performance over being, who punished failure with coldness, who did not express physical affection, who had impossible-to-reach standards.

Developed mask: the rigid one. Symmetrical, beautiful, athletic body —a 'model' body that meets standards—. Upright posture, contained gestures. The person learns that 'by being perfect, they won't be able to criticize me.' Hypersensitivity to injustice. Emotional blocking as a defense.

Adult manifestations: high professional performance, perfectionism, difficulty recognizing one's own emotions (especially the 'ugly' ones: anger, sadness, fear), extremely high expectations of self and others, a chronic feeling of injustice when effort is not recognized, difficulty with spontaneous pleasure.

Healing: allowing oneself to feel the emotions that the rigid parent did not permit, letting go of perfectionism, recognizing that the body and life do not need to be 'model' to have value, learning to receive physical affection without tension, accepting imperfection.