NCJ Number
15527
Journal
Social Work Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1974) Pages: 688-696
Date Published
1974
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHORS TEST THE TWO ASSUMPTIONS THAT CHILDREN HAVE A NEED FOR 'CONTINUITY' (AN UNBROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ADULT) AND ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO PARENTAL SEPARATIONS.
Abstract
DATA OBTAINED FROM OBSERVATIONS OF CHILDREN IN DAY CARE ENVIRONMENTS AND RESEARCH ON CHILDREN LIVING IN KIBBUTEIM SUPPORT THE AUTHORS' CHALLENGE TO THESE TWO ASSUMPTIONS, WHICH ARE DERIVED FROM PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY. THE AUTHORS ARGUE THAT THE QUALITY AND NATURE OF A CHILD-PARENT RELATIONSHIP IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CONTINUITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP. THEY ALSO CONTEND THAT DISCONTINUITIES SUCH AS SEPARATIONS OR 'MULTIPLE PARENTING' DO NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE CHILD. ('MULTIPLE PARENTING' REFERS TO THOSE SITUATIONS IN WHICH A SIZEABLE PORTION OF THE CHILD'S WAKING HOURS ARE IN THE CARE OF SOMEONE OTHER THAN HIS PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.) ALSO EXPLORED IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ADVERSE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN ARE DUE TO AN ACTUAL SEPARATION (PARENTS' DIVORCE) OR TO THE PARENTAL DISHARMONY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE BREAK. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE IDEAS FOR CHILD CUSTODY DECISIONS ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. THE AUTHORS CALL FOR A DATA-BASED PERSPECTIVE ON CHILD PLACEMENT THAT WOULD USE ACCURATE SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS AND CONTROLLED EXPERIMENTATION TO REVEAL THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD. ONE SUCH MODEL, SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY, HAS ALREADY BEEN DEMONSTRATED.