The WPATH Files revelations of pseudoscience in transgender care is the just latest in a litany of psychological quackery. Attachment Disorder reminds us of how deadly such false beliefs can be
I disagree with your conclusion. These people ARE evil. Whatever theories they hold are nothing but a rationalization for gratifying their sadistic impulses.
I never heard about AD before, but reading this story really churned my stomach with nausea. I haven't read most of your books, but I see even more clearly now why you're so passionate about addressing this problem with WPATH before it gets loads worse.
Thank you for another very interesting post. However, as a biological psychologist, I respectfully disagree with the claim that these people were not "evil". In my opinion, the cruelty directed at this young person, and the therapist' s pathological disregard of the plaintiff cries of a dying child (or any human being) is the definition of evil. The claim that we can 'understand' this behavior because it is the product of a "complex internal logic" is either tautological or meaningless. I've taught about many of these outlandish incidents in my psychology classes over the last few decades and I'm convinced that the narcissistic (and often sociopathic) self-delusions under which these people were operating may be different in degree, but no different in kind than those motivating the most heinous acts of violence. Thank you again for a very interesting essay. Sincerely, Frederick
I've never heard about this before, I'm flabbergasted.
I agree with George and Frederick - the whole framework very conveniently serves as a justification for people who want to abuse and belittle a child because they enjoy it.
Prolonged torture and murder of a helpless child begging for her life while adults joke and make fun of her. I can't imagine any behavior more despicable and vile. I agree with the other post— if these aren't evil people I don't know who is.
“The child inside”, which you deny exists, is basically a way to describe the developmental levels and mental states of a person going through series of psychological states
We all go through these different stages, states, experiences, and perspectives from birth to childhood, to teenagers, to young adults, and etc.
Growing, developing, and changing along the way.
Sometimes people get psychologically “stuck” unable to grow into or out of a certain developmental stage or level.
That’s what “the child within” is describing.
It’s a recollection of significant / traumatic events and experiences - and the child’s interpretation of the experience themselves.
People can hold so tightly onto their beliefs or interventions that it puts other people in physical harm and danger. For the sake of Justice or because they’re convinced that they are doing something beneficial. We see this (but not to the point of physical death in some cases) through indoctrination of mindsets or the suppression of a person’s being.
I may be confused with something else but the “inner child” thing does appears to be a thing and isn’t BS, at least in regards to unaddressed family trauma and the effects of emotional neglect or physical abuse. Depending on how a person was raised up it can affect how they face life, and their effectiveness or ineffectiveness. This essay may be presenting something different though?
Wow, I had never heard of this case. I was steeped in "attachment theory" literature as part of the recommended preparation for adopting a toddler, who had been abandoned at birth by her biological mother. The "rebirthing" was not suggested, but there were techniques like re-introducing bottle-feeding in a child who had moved on to solid food, in order to create the closeness and eye-to-eye contact of maternal feeding . . . We tried it a few times, but our child wasn't interested.
I disagree with your conclusion. These people ARE evil. Whatever theories they hold are nothing but a rationalization for gratifying their sadistic impulses.
I never heard about AD before, but reading this story really churned my stomach with nausea. I haven't read most of your books, but I see even more clearly now why you're so passionate about addressing this problem with WPATH before it gets loads worse.
Thank you for another very interesting post. However, as a biological psychologist, I respectfully disagree with the claim that these people were not "evil". In my opinion, the cruelty directed at this young person, and the therapist' s pathological disregard of the plaintiff cries of a dying child (or any human being) is the definition of evil. The claim that we can 'understand' this behavior because it is the product of a "complex internal logic" is either tautological or meaningless. I've taught about many of these outlandish incidents in my psychology classes over the last few decades and I'm convinced that the narcissistic (and often sociopathic) self-delusions under which these people were operating may be different in degree, but no different in kind than those motivating the most heinous acts of violence. Thank you again for a very interesting essay. Sincerely, Frederick
Speaking of puberty blockers and satanic panic, have you checked into the recent work of Diane Ehrensaft? https://www.thedistancemag.com/p/diane-ehrensaft-satanic-panic-woo
I've never heard about this before, I'm flabbergasted.
I agree with George and Frederick - the whole framework very conveniently serves as a justification for people who want to abuse and belittle a child because they enjoy it.
Prolonged torture and murder of a helpless child begging for her life while adults joke and make fun of her. I can't imagine any behavior more despicable and vile. I agree with the other post— if these aren't evil people I don't know who is.
So important to remind us that my profession of child psychiatry is very prone to destructive fads.
“The child inside”, which you deny exists, is basically a way to describe the developmental levels and mental states of a person going through series of psychological states
We all go through these different stages, states, experiences, and perspectives from birth to childhood, to teenagers, to young adults, and etc.
Growing, developing, and changing along the way.
Sometimes people get psychologically “stuck” unable to grow into or out of a certain developmental stage or level.
That’s what “the child within” is describing.
It’s a recollection of significant / traumatic events and experiences - and the child’s interpretation of the experience themselves.
People can hold so tightly onto their beliefs or interventions that it puts other people in physical harm and danger. For the sake of Justice or because they’re convinced that they are doing something beneficial. We see this (but not to the point of physical death in some cases) through indoctrination of mindsets or the suppression of a person’s being.
I may be confused with something else but the “inner child” thing does appears to be a thing and isn’t BS, at least in regards to unaddressed family trauma and the effects of emotional neglect or physical abuse. Depending on how a person was raised up it can affect how they face life, and their effectiveness or ineffectiveness. This essay may be presenting something different though?
Wow, I had never heard of this case. I was steeped in "attachment theory" literature as part of the recommended preparation for adopting a toddler, who had been abandoned at birth by her biological mother. The "rebirthing" was not suggested, but there were techniques like re-introducing bottle-feeding in a child who had moved on to solid food, in order to create the closeness and eye-to-eye contact of maternal feeding . . . We tried it a few times, but our child wasn't interested.
Please write about IFS therapy!!!