NCJ Number
1782
Date Published
1962
Length
191 pages
Annotation
THE WORK RELATES A SCHOOL-PSYCHIATRIC EXPERIMENT DESIGNED FOR THE TREATMENT OF MALADJUSTED AND DELINQUENT BOYS.
Abstract
WHEN BREDINGHURST WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL. IT WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL FOR MALADJUSTED CHILDREN IN ENGLAND TO INCORPORATE INTO ITS STRUCTURE A FULL PSYCHIATRIC UNIT, THUS BRINGING INTO CLOSE ASSOCIATION TEACHERS, CHILD-CARE STAFF AND A PSYCHIATRIC TEAM. THE AUTHOR SETS OUT HIS VIEWS ON MALADJUSTMENT AND SUPPORTS THEM WITH CASE HISTORIES. HE RECOGNIZES THE NEED OF THE MORE DISTURBED CHILD TO REGRESS TO INFANTILE STATES AND TO REACH A CRISIS OF VIOLENT OR COMPLETELY DISORGANIZED BEHAVIOR BEFORE A CURE IS POSSIBLE. HE DISCUSSES THE HOSTILITY OF MANY MAGISTRATES TO PSYCHOTHERAPY AND ADMITS THAT THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST CANNOT GO FASTER THAN THE COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO FOLLOW, BUT POINTS OUT THAT HARSH DISCIPLINE, AS A MEANS OF CURE, MAY WELL PASS THE PROBLEM ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) 95 REFERENCES