Psychological Concepts in “A Child Called “It” by Pelzer

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Psychosocial development
The Maslow Pyramid
Language
Stressors
Persistence
Conclusion
References

Introduction

One of the most brutal instances of child abuse in California history is the subject of the novel A Child Called “It.” Dave Pelzer was deprived and tortured for years by his mentally unstable alcoholic mother as a child. He frequently found himself on the edge of death due to his mother’s subtle humiliation. Dave slept in filthy, tattered clothing on an old cot in a chilly garage. He was happy eating garbage that even dogs found disgusting since his mother had concluded that food was an unaffordable luxury for him. The boy had no one to turn to for assistance since even his father rejected him. Multiple instances of psychological abuse, which has a negative impact on a child’s mind, occur throughout the novel. This essay provides five psychological concepts illustrated in the novel.

Psychosocial development

Psychosocial Development is a process of a child’s psychological development regarding socialization, learning, skills, and talents essential for a typical existence in society. Erik Erickson’s theory of psychosocial development of personality outlines 8 phases of personality development (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 7). The fourth stage, which spans the ages of 6 to 11, is when a kid becomes used to methodical learning and learns how to get attention by carrying out essential and beneficial tasks (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 7). Unfortunately, Dave was unable to proceed through this period of growth peacefully. Dave was mainly concerned about abusive mother rather than learning new things. As a result, Dave struggled with communication, studying, and self-esteem.

The Maslow Pyramid

The Maslow pyramid represents all human needs, from the most basic to the most complex. According to Maslow, a person only experiences a desire for higher demands after satisfying their basic needs (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 10). For example, a person is unlikely to invest much time and energy in self-development if they lack food and shelter. In Dave’s situation, his mother denied him access to his fundamental need – food. To make ends meet, Dave rummaged through the trash and stole food from the school. Additionally, he could not feel safe at home, which is a secondary need. Moreover, Dave’s social needs were not satisfied since his family neglected him, his mother abused him, and he was bullied at school. Dave could not focus on the highest levels of needs – self-esteem and self-actualization – because the first three levels of needs were unmet.

Language

Dave’s mother abused him by putting a tremendous psychological strain. For example, in one of the episodes of his memories, Dave recalls being instructed by his mother to repeat the phrase “I am a bad boy” while looking at the mirror (Pelzer, 1995, p. 22). Language is a method of information exchange between people that involves the use of words and logical principles to organize those words. Since thoughts are produced through language, phrase repetition serves as a means of moral pressure (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 7). That way, the mother sent her son the message that he must be punished for “bad” behavior. As a result, Dave believed he was “a bad boy,” hated himself, and was envious of his siblings, whom their mother treated with affection (Pelzer, 1995, p. 88). In addition, Dave’s self-esteem issues impacted his socialization with peers at school. Because of his mother’s manipulation, he lived with a sense of insecurity.

Stressors

Stressor is a demanding or threatening event that might cause a significant damage to a person’s mental and physical states (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 14). For several years, Dave has been under severe stress brought on by fears of his mother and the threat of starving. A person’s physical and mental health are significantly impacted by their traumatic experience, which is considered a major stressor. Excessive stress results in cortisol release, which raises the risk of depression and lowers immunity (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 14). Dave is more prone to depression since he has spent a long time in a stressful environment. Additionally, persistent stress might cause social issues in the form of avoidance (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 14). However, Dave’s life improved, and he adapted to society after being saved from his mother.

Persistence

Dave has lived with the effects of his physical and mental traumas his whole life. His book describes his upbringing with an alcoholic mother in great detail, demonstrating that the horrific event remained indelible in his mind. This flaw is referred to as persistence in Schacter’s Seven Sins of Memory (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 8). Traumatic events are difficult to forget and frequently reappear, having a significant impact on the person’s present. People frequently suffer psychological issues, including PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and others as a result of abuse. However, Dave was able to rehabilitate from years of abuse at the hands of his mother. Dave makes it evident in the book that he forgave his mother and forgot those awful memories during his visit to their vacation home (Pelzer, 1995, p. 93). He has a son and is raising him with the utmost affection.

Conclusion

To conclude, the life of Dave Pelzer is an example of the neglect of an innocent child. In his childhood, Dave experienced torture by his mother, which caused him serious mental and physical problems. Dave’s psychosocial development was delayed; he had trouble communicating with classmates, and experienced low self-esteem. He had no access to basic human necessities, let alone high-level needs. His mother subjected him to extreme psychological pressure, while other family members ignored his struggles. All that stress caused him to remember the traumatic events all his life. However, Dave was able to recover and even had a son, whom he cherishes.

References

Pelzer, D. (1995). A child called “It.” Blackstone Publishing.

Spielman, R. M., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2014). Psychology. OpenStax. Web.

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