dren. These children are said to be "different," to suffer primarily from a lack of consistent limit setting rather than from a lack of love. Miller notes that the shaming, disparaging, and controlling seem to have a “particularly disruptive and sadistic element to them" (1978, p. 440), one that tends to assume an exaggerated willfulness on the part of the misbehaving child. These inappropriate techniques may arise because the staff are inadequately trained and supervised for the work they d.. They lack an appreciation and understanding of the behavioral dynamics of child abuse, so they often overreact to the children's oppositional behavior. Such instances tend to heighten the staff's sense of helplessness and lack of control over the children. Staff will thus act to restore their authority, and, in the process, they often disregard the meaning of the children's behavior. Staff need children to be compliant, as it gives them a sense of power that is otherwise lacking in their lives. They tend to exaggerate their own importance in the children's lives, and they do not appreciate the effect of their own feelings and insecurities on the therapeutic relationship. Staff powerlessness is reinforced by their status within the hospital structure, where they receive low pay, have little room for advancement, and are expected to be compliant within the hierarchical structure defined by the medical model of treatment. The staff are unable to direct their frustrations within the system, so they turn to the child for a sense of power. Just as the staff have little understanding of how their own work environment may affect their feelings, they are unappreciative of how they stifle the initiative and autonomy of children by imposing too many restrictions on their behavior. Conclusion Abused children have a remarkable ability to provoke further punishment and mistreatment from their caretakers. In this study, I have attempted to show that by defining delinquent children as ungovernable rather than as abused, hospital psychiatric wards reinforce character traits that are rooted in earlier abuse. More than limits and discipline, what abused children need are consistent care and nurture, or simply love. As Ashley Montagu wrote, "no child adequately loved ever became a delinquent or murderer" (1971, p. 174). If we are to provide treatment to delinquent children, we need to reject their efforts to push us away or provoke us to punish them. We need to offer more than rules and regimentation, for they need more than simply to be controlled. We need to provide environments that are safe and predictable, but most of all loving. REFERENCES Bach, J. An ideological framework for understanding the emotional layers of the shame-based Bettleheim, B., & Sylvester, E. A therapeutic milieu. In J. Whittaker & A. Treschman (Eds.), Kline, D. Testimony before subcommittee on child and human development, January 24, Konopka, G. The role of the group in residential treatment. In J. Whittaker & A. Tresch- Miller, D. Early adolescence: Its psychology, psychopathalogy, and implications for ther- Montagu, A. Touching: The human significance of the skin. Columbia University Press, 1971. Rutter. M. Separation experiences. Journal of Pediatrics, July 1979, 95(1), 147-154. Wadison, H. Art psychotherapy. New York: Wiley Press, 1980, 163-170. Child & Youth Services, Volume 4, Nos. 1/2, 1982. Child & Youth Services is published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. BUSINESS OFFICE. All subscription and advertising inquiries should be directed to SUBSCRIPTIONS are on a calendar year, per volume basis only. Payment must CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Please notify the Subscription Department, The Haworth Copyright ©1922 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Copies of articles in The Haworth Press, Inc., 28 East 22 Street, New York, NY 10010 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Institutional abuse of children & youth. (Child & youth services; v. 4, no. 1/2) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Child abuse-United States-Addresses, essays, lectures-Collected works. (HV741] 362.7s 81-7194 AACR2 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JEROME BEKER, Center for Youth Development and Research, University of Minnesota, Si. Paul EDITOR RANAE HANSON, Center for Youth Development and Research, University of Minnesota. St. Paul EDITORIAL BOARD F. HERBERT BARNES, Connecticut Junior Republic, Litchfield SHERWOOD B. CHOROST, Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, New York, NY BUELL E. GOOCHER, Edgefield Lodge. Troutdale, OR PHILIP KAMINSTEIN, Berkshire Farm Institute for Training and Research, Canaan, NY ANTHONY N. MALUCCIO, School of Social Work, University of Connecticut. West Hartford BRAULIO MONTALVO, Aspira, Inc. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia DONALD L. PETERS, Division of Individual and Family Studies. College of Human Devel opment, Pennsylvania State University MILTON F. SHORE, Mental Health Study Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Adelphi, MD KAREN VANDERVEN. Department of Child Development and Child Care, School of Health Related Professions, University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA JAMES K. WHITTAKER. School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle Mental Health: the Hidden System of Adolescent By Carol A.B. Warren William G. Staples Department of Sociology and *Paper presented at "Rethinking Child Welfare: International Perspectives," Minnneapolis, MN. June 17-21, 1985 |