One of the tasks of psychology is to study the processes in the minds of individuals and determine the reasons for their occurrence. In the course of such activities, scientists have built several concepts that play the role of a tool for understanding the human being. Thanks to some manifestations of any emotions and thoughts of an individual, a specialist is able to establish a problem. In A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer, several crucial psychological concepts are demonstrated perfectly due to the presence of the real-life context, which demonstrates the significance of applying these concepts to evidence-based practice.
The first and most striking concept applicable to this book is behaviorism mentioned in Chapter 1 of Spielman et al.’s (2020) book. The essence of this approach is the analysis and interpretation of the behavior of the individual in such a way as to identify the causes of certain phenomena (Spielman et al., 2020, p. 193). The relationship representing the concept in question is based on a detailed description of both the behavior and the respective response. The author describes, “Mother’s voice began to send tremors down on my spine” (Pelzer, 2008, p. 30). From this sentence, it is noticeable that the lyrical hero experiences special sensations when he hears his mother’s voice.
The second concept that applies to the novel in question is that one of operant conditioning. The concept of the operant conditioning suggests that specific behaviors can be learned after one is exposed to a series of negative or positive reinforcement techniques (Spielman et al., 2020). Specifically, according to Spielman et al. (2020), “In operant conditioning, organisms learn to associate a behavior and its consequence” (p. 192). The specified concept can be found in Chapter 6 of Spielman et al.’s (2020) book, where the process of developing and learning responses to externa stimuli is discussed. Applying the specified concept to the book, one will recognize the development of the operant conditioning in the protagonist. Namely, by being subjected to cruel and violent punishments, he learns to become unnoticeable and subdued, avoiding to express himself and even ask for the basic resources to sustain his life.
Another concept that Spielman et al. (2020) discuss in their book and that can be observed in Pelzer’s story is the one of substance use and, particularly, their abuse and misuse. The phenomenon in question is self-explanatory, implying uncontrollable overconsumption of substances leading to deviations in behaviors and consciousness (Spielman et al., 2020). Spielman et al. (2020) mention the specified concept in Chapter 4 of their book. The issue of substance use is observed in the protagonist’s mother, who seems to be heavily dependent on alcohol (Spielman et al., 2020). Indeed, according to Pelzer (2008), his mother was particularly violent when being under the influence of substances: “Mother’s eyes were bloodshot and her voice sounded as if she were possessed” (p. 27). Indicating that uninhibited consumption of substances leads to significant changes in one’s consciousness and perception of reality, the specified scene stands out as an accurate representation of a substance misuse disorder.
Fourthly, Pelzer (2008) renders the notion of human genetics quite accurately in Chapter 3 of his book. According to Spielman et al. (2020), “is understood that genes not only code for particular traits, but also contribute to certain patterns of cognition and behavior” (p. 79). The provided description of genetics suggests that the specified phenomenon is reflected in the story as the lead character observes his mother’s inclination toward abusive behavior. Admittedly, the specified perspective can be considered controversial since it implies to an extent that the blame for abusive behavior can be shifted from individuals and their personal choices of the circumstances beyond their control.
However, given the situation observed in the novel, one will have to concede that the attitudes and behaviors that the mother displays indicate of a severe personality disorder and, therefore, the presence of a mental illness that can be attributed to genetic issues. Specifically, the shifts in the mother’s mood, as well as her callousness and complete lack of empathy for one of her children may point to the existence of a genetic issue that may have affected her behavior and perception of reality. Therefore, the mother’s genotype defined several factors that contributed to her developing the specified personality traits, leading to her becoming particularly devoid of emotions such as empathy. Admittedly, the narrator explains that her violence was directed only at him and not his other sibling; however, it is not confirmed that the mother demonstrated any empathy toward the other child, either.
Finally, one must mention the notions of sensation and perception as the phenomena observed in the book. Addressed in Chapter 5, the concept of sensation is rendered as the processing of information obtained when interacting with the environment (Spielman et al., 2020). Specifically, the novel details quite a number of instances in which the lead character’s senses were heightened due to fear: “I heard something pop, and felt an intense pain in my shoulder and arm” (Pelzer, 2008, p. 24). The specified description provides an accurate interpretation of how specific experiences are perceived. Namely, the sound of an arm being hit and the resulting pain accompanying the injury are articulated precisely, demonstrating how the nervous system works. Overall, the novel incorporates quite a range of concepts from Spielman et al.’s (2020) book, offering substantia food for thought.
Due to the presence of real-life experiences, Pelzer’s book serves as an important source of analysis. The novel demonstrates the importance of identifying these concepts and applying them in the context of evidence-based practice to address patients’ needs. Therefore, “A Child Called ‘It’” should be seen as a source of essential insights concerning the management of trauma.
References
Pelzer, D. (2008). A child called ‘It’. An abused child’s journey from victim to victor. Orion Publishing Group, Limited.
Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology. Rice University.