Tag Archives: perceptions

Child Favoritism

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on November 19, 2012 1:21 pm

What is favoritism? Favoritism in simple, is the intentional or unintentional preferential treatment of an individual or group of persons. Parents who favor one child over another, are subscribing to the notion that one child is better behaved, more attractive, similar in personality to the favoring parent, or they have preferred kinship.

Favoritism is commonly associated with a bond that develops between the child and the parent. Moreover, the favoring parent may have a guilt, remorse, or negative emotion associated with the unfavored child. In some cases, a detachment occurs because of some major traumatic event or a major life challenge. Such cases can breach the bond between the parent and child. If a child is conceived unexpectedly or without a desire, the parent may withdraw emotionally, cognitively, and physically from the child. Children who are born with physical birth defects, psychological or psychiatric challenges, or a comorbidity of issues simultaneously, can prove burdensome to the oppositional or unattached parent.

Favoritism is not always intentional. Favoritism can occur when a child favors or resembles a parent whether physically or through a particular personality style. Moreover, favoritism is not always related to a resemblance of a parental figure, rather it is a fondness established between a parent and a child. In some cases, if a child is too much alike the parental figure, then this too may cause a rift between the parent and child. The parent may ultimately see qualities in the child that they dislike or distain. The heart of the matter is such parents want ease and comfortability.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Preventing and Managing School Violence

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on June 6, 2012 10:49 am

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Children are barometers of the chaos that exists within their lives. If a child’s internal and external lives are proving emotionally gregarious, then life can prove personally limitless. However, if life is proving egregious in nature, then all forms of life may feel personally bleak and without personal merit.

WHAT IS THE CAUSATION OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE?

Children who act out violently are frequently displaying signs of desperation. Desperation may be fueled by a child feeling excluded, judged, disrespected, disapproved, disavowed, or unloved.

Acts of school violence have left many with feelings of frustration, indifference, and a feeling that schools utterly are incompetent. The reality is, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students themselves are feeling hopeless and desperate to bring normalcy to the academic process.

ANGER

Anger is most commonly the root cause of school violence. What is anger? Anger is a strong emotional response to a situation, event, circumstance, or person. It is this displeasure with life at school, in their home, or globally.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Effects of Trauma on Children and Adolescents

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on May 23, 2012 4:40 pm

Managing Disruptive Behaviors in the Classroom

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on March 13, 2012 9:49 am

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The classroom is a rapidly shifting and volatile environment. “It is essential to this learning environment that respect for the rights of others seeking to learn, respect for the professionalism of the instructor (teacher), and the general goals of academic freedom are maintained. Occasionally, faculty members find that they can not provide effective classroom instruction because of disruptions.” (Butler University, 2012, Online)

When a child is disruptive in the classroom, this can cause other children to perform poorly, as well as, igniting other children to become agitated, emotionally distraught, and insecure in the safety of their classroom. Unfortunately, disruptive behaviors act as a bong vibrating throughout the learning environment.

Disruptive children may or may not recognize the repercussions of their behaviors, attitudes and perceptions. “Children who have habits of behaving in hostile and aggressive ways are almost universally disliked. They are disliked by their peers, siblings, neighbors, teachers and not infrequently by their parents.” (Braman, p. 149, 1997) Regrettably, disruptive children are often lost to their own negative behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions. Leaving an impression upon the child that they are worthless, underserving, and alone. “The habitually hostile child learns early that his (her) behaviors is not going to earn him (her) the love and affection he (she) so desperately wants.” (Braman, p.149, 1997) Continue reading →

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Body Image

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on February 2, 2012 10:00 am

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Culturally, North America has become obsessed with the concept of body image. Children are bombarded by mixed messages describing the “right” physique and the “right” body type. These messages are broadcasted through television, radio, movies, magazines, newspapers, billboards, the web and through a barrage of electronic gadgets (i.e. cell phones, tablet computers, personal computers). “Body image is a widespread preoccupation. In one study of college students, 74.4% of the normal-weight women stated that they thought about their weight or appearance ‘all the time’ or ‘frequently.’ But the women weren’t alone; the study also found that 46% of the normal-weight men surveyed responded the same way.” (Brown University, 2012, Online)

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

What Would You Do?

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on November 25, 2011 9:52 am

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What would you do?

In the past few months, I have enjoyed watching the show, “What would you do?” with John Quinones of ABC News. I have benefitted from watching Mr. Quinones approach to querying a host of ethical, moral, legal, and life questions. His show has reengaged many of my own questions on life, as well as, creating new questions for me to ponder. In this article, I will be using John Quinones line of questioning and theoretical approach, to asking the tough questions.

What Would You Do, if you were privy to the knowledge of a child being harmed?

In my practice, I have sadly received the egregious reports that a child has been intentionally harmed. I have received these reports directly from the lips of those being abused, as well as, through those who have either witnessed or been informed of the abuse. Unfortunately, the authorities will not pursue legal action against “all” types of abuse. As a therapist, this can drive you mad when you recognize how your client-patient is being negatively impacted by the abuse. Furthermore, as a therapist you want your client-patient to feel safe, secure, and capable of reaching out for help; but when the abuser is capable of winning through the legal authorities’ incompetencies, or through the restraints placed on the authority, you become like the mad hatter seeking ways to positively influence the authorities’ decisions.

How do we define abuse? What is abuse? Are not many forms of abuse subjective? Indeed, many forms of abuse are subjectively influenced, so how do we come to an agreeable definition, when the definition of abuse is in the eye of the beholder? The characteristics of abuse can be defined as maltreatment, neglect, repression, oppression, subjection, or any form of cruelty intentional or unintentional. Abuse does not stop with direct solicitation, it can be experienced on a vicarious level or through indirect experiences. Abuse can target an individual on a barrage of emotional, financial, sexual, physical, or psychological experiences.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Who Do You See in the Mirror?

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on November 10, 2011 4:27 pm

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Who do you see when you look into a mirror? Do you recognize the image of the person looking back at you? How long has it been since you really took time to view your own image? Are you familiar with your body’s changes and maturation? If not, how long has it been since you recall really seeing yourself?

Teaching your children to be honest with themselves, begins with you. As parents, we need to be honest with our own person. If we avoid being honest with our person, then our children will learn a lesson that it is okay to be dishonest with ourselves. If you are dishonest with another, you will know the truth, but you will have to live with that falsity. Ironically, if you are dishonest with your own person long enough, then this dishonesty will become your accepted truth.

When is the last time you submerged into you own person? How long has it been since you spent time intra-reflecting? Has it been a while since you spent time reflecting on your inner and outer being? Have you been capable of integrating your outer being with your inner being? It is a difficult task for many to see their outer person, much less their inner being. Why? When we see ourselves outwardly, our physical appearance, we see what others may interpret us to be. It is difficult for people to face their inner-beings. Not only is it difficult, but it is not uncommon for an individual to avoid facing their inner being. When we think of looking inwardly, it is more common that an individual will think on the negative, rather than seeing positive aspects of intra-reflection. For many, they will only see their flaws, blemishes, and the perceived negative changes that life has brought about. Whereas, few people spend quality time looking at the dichotomy of our makeup, the good and the bad, the yin and yang. If we desire personal growth and maturation, then we must be willing to go deeper than surface level, we must be willing to know and face our inner being.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA