Abstract
To delve into the world of children,as seen from the inside, an interview study was conducted with 17 girls and 29 boys between the ages of four and ten. The conversation revolved around the experiences that made them upset or feel sad. Their concerns over abandonment and powerlessness, expressed under varied guises, revealed a deep, underlying sense of vulnerability and dependence. It is suggested that adults help build a backdrop of understanding and security by providing an affective and cognitive context of authenticity through their daily interactions with children.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bauer DH: Childhood fears in developmental perspective, in:Out of School, Hersov L, Berg I (Eds). New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1980, pp 189–208.
Jersild AT, Holmes FB: Children's fears.Child Development Monogr 20:1–358, 1935.
Maurer A: What children fear.J Genetic Psychol 196:265–277, 1965.
Zeligs R: Children's worries.Sociology and Social Res 24:22–32, 1939.
Dohrenwend BS, Dohrenwend BP (Eds):Stressufl Life Events. New York, John Wiley and Sons, 1974.
Gunderson EKE, Rahe RH (Eds):Life Stress and Illness. Springfield, Illinois Charles C Thomas, 1974.
Coddington RD: The significance of life events as etiologic factors in the diseases of children: I. A survey of professional workers.J Psychosom Res 16:7–18, 1972.
Coddington RD: The significance of life events as etiologic factors in the diseases of children: II. A study of normal population.J Psychosom Res 16:205–213, 1972
Gersten JC, Langner TS, Eisenberg JG, Orzeck L: Child behavior and life events: Undesirable change or change per se?, inStressful Life Events, Dohrenwend BS, Dohrenwend BP (Eds). New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974, pp 159–170.
Yamamoto K: Children's ratings of the stressfulness of experiences.Developmental Psychol 15:581–582, 1979.
Yamamoto K, Phillips JA: Filipino children's ratings of the stressfulness of experiences.J Early Adolescence 1:397–406, 1981.
Yamamoto K, Davis OL Jr: Views of Japanese and American children concerning stressful experiences.J Social Psychol 116:163–171, 1982.
Yamamoto K, Soliman A, Parsons J, Davis OL Jr: Voices in unison: Stressful events in the lives of children in six countries.J Child Psychol Psychiat 28:855–864, 1987.
Yamamoto K, Felsenthal HM: Stressful experiences of children: Professional judgments.Psychol Reports 50:1087–1093, 1982.
Benedict R:The Chrysanthemum and the Sword. New York: New American Library, 1974, p 14.
Rubin LB:Women of a Certain Age. New York: Harper Colophon Books, 1981, p 224.
Cottle TJ:Private Lives and Public Accounts. New York: New Viewpoints, 1978.
Sidel R:Urban Survival. Boston: Beacon Press, 1978.
Lifton RJ: On psychohistory, inExplorations in Psychohistory, Lifton RJ, Olson E (Eds). New York: Simon and Schuster, 1974, pp 21–41.
Yamamoto K, Byrnes DH: Classroom social status, ethnicity, and ratings of stressful events.J Educational Res 77:283–286, 1984.
Yamamoto K, Byrnes DH: Primary children's ratings of the stressfulness of experiences.J Res Childhood Education 2:117–121, 1987.
Rey ME:Curious George Goes to the Hospital. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1966.
Richter E:The Teenage Hospital Experience: You Can Handle It! New York: Coward, McCann, 1982.
Sever JA:Johnny Goes to the Hospital. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1953.
Bettelheim B: Autonomy and inner freedom: Skills of emotional management, inLife Skills in School and Society, Rubin LJ (Ed). Washington, D.C. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development 1969, pp 73–94.
Rubin LJ:Facts and Feelings in the Classroom. New York: Viking Press, 1974.
Schwartz RE: Children under fire: The role of the schools.American J Orthopsychiat 52:409–419, 1982.
Torrance EP:Constructive Behavior. Belmont, California: Wadsworth, 1965.
Murphy LB, Moriarity AE:Vulnerability, Coping, and Growth. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1976, p 349.
LeShan EJ:The Conspiracy against Childhood New York: Atheneum, 1971.
Elkind D:The Hurried Child. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley, 1981.
Suransky VP:Erosion of Childhood. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982.
Cohen H:Equal Rights for Children. Totowa, New Jersey Littlefield, Adams. 1980.
Moustakas C:The Authentic Teacher. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Howard A Doyle, 1966.
Westman JC:Child Advocacy. New York: The Free Press, 1979.
Goldstein, J., Freud A, Solnit, AJ, Goldstein S:In the Best Interests of the Child. New York: The Free Press, 1986.