Citation

Tooley KM. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 1978; 48(4): 703-716.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1978, American Orthopsychiatric Association, Publisher Wiley Blackwell)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

707620

Abstract

Certain parents use their child as a representative of their own unacceptable impulses, perceiving the youngster as evil and seeking experts to confirm their opinion. They come to mental health clinics for diagnoses but not treatment; evidence that contradicts their view is ignored out of a need to protect their own precarious psychological balance. The child, in spite of good early adjustment, tends to conform to the parents' preferred perception. Legal and ethical implications for professionals working with such cases are discussed.

Language: en