Frightened Children.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1922, Page 4

Frightened Children.

(By a Psychologist). Parents who fail to recogniso tlie disastrous-influence! Of strong-fear upon

young children- are’responsible for great mental suffering, often leading to nervous illness in later life. I know a medical man whose frequent nightmares and disturbed sleep are associated with stories of bogies in the dark told to him liy his governess at the age of six. ' ’ I The night terrors endured by Charles Lamb throughout his life probably con- ] Iributed to the attack of mental disease ( which caused his temporary confinement j in 'the ifo'xton asylum.

“1 was 'dreadfully alive to nervous terrors,” lie writes. ”1 never laid my head on my pillow, M suppose, from (lie fourth to the'seventh dr eighth year of my life—so far as memory serves in things so long Ago—witjhout a" assurance which realised its own prophecy of seeing some frightful spectre.’,’ jPavor noeturiius, of night fear, is very eoihinon anioiig imaginative, nervously ouii'stVtuted qhiltlreii. Some degree of fear is entirely natural and wholesome. Fear is the protective instinct that urges us to jlighl from danger.

7 But there is a constant risjk that fear may lieeome morbid and excessive.. The victim of pholiias is at ,1 c:ist handicapped' Til the battle ol life,, and his dreads may produce positive insanity. Acute emotional pain is endured by many children will) are subjected to over-severity in punishment. The record of juvenile suicides through an exaggerated sense ot guilt for misdoing and tlie terror of penalties illustrii'es tiie torture that a eoiisidcrahle number of children suffer.

The aim of the parent and teacher should he to foster confidence and courage in (be child. This training is quite compatible with the instilling of respect, consideration, and obedience. XJte results of terrorism are a development of deceitfiilness and cunning in flic child of the tough-minded type, or morbid timidity and neurotic ailments in the tender-minded. Billing bv love is always more effective tin" l intimidation and harshness.

The normal attitude of the child to the parents is a mixture of love and tear of authority. When the parental domination is unduly iiarsh, secret or open rebellion is the invariable consequence, and the child grows up with a ro.'eiitmeot against a)! authority. Jn this way tlie mental roil is prepared lor revolt and anarchic theories.

'J'lie physical symptoms of fear are re'ii in hysteria, stammering, and squinting. During the air-raids a number of .London children sunk into stupors after the terrors if tlie bombardment. The results of fear frequently last for years or lor the whole of adult life.