Dave Pelzer Trilogy Of Survival Essay Research
Dave Pelzer: Trilogy Of Survival Essay, Research Paper
Dave Pelzer & # 8217 ; s Trilogy of Survival:
A Child Called & # 8220 ; It & # 8221 ;
The Lost Boy
A Man Named Dave
Deborah L. Kesling
Overview
Dave Pelzer was the mark of one of the worst instances of kid maltreatment in California history. This three of books tells the narrative through his eyes.
I had originally decided to read and compose about another book. In our schoolroom one twenty-four hours, I saw a transcript of A Child Called & # 8220 ; It & # 8221 ; sitting on one of the desktops. I picked it up and thumbed through it, reading spots here and at that place. I was hooked. I obtained my ain transcript after category and began reading it that dark. Contrary to its little dimensions ( 184 7.5 & # 8243 ; by 5 & # 8243 ; pages in big type ) , it is a really large book. For this study, I have read all three of Dave Pelzer & # 8217 ; s books about his life: A Child Called & # 8220 ; It & # 8221 ; , The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave.
A Child Called & # 8220 ; It & # 8221 ; histories Dave & # 8217 ; s life as a kid, and is told from that point of view. From his earliest remembrances of a comparatively happy life with & # 8220 ; the Mommy & # 8221 ; to his life and decease battle with & # 8220 ; The Mother & # 8221 ; , this book inside informations the horror of Dave & # 8217 ; s dehumanising being. Traveling far beyond & # 8220 ; typical & # 8221 ; physical, emotional and psychological maltreatments, Dave & # 8217 ; s narrative Tells of knowing famishment, forced coprophagy, poisoning and much more. This volume covers his life from his earliest memories at age 4 until his deliverance at age 12.
The Lost Boy picks up the narrative where the first book leaves off, following Dave through the Foster attention system until the age of 18. Dave & # 8217 ; s pilotage through the Foster attention system is an backbreaking journey. His sense of endurance is strong, but being a Foster kid is non easy.
A Man Named Dave is the concluding book in the trilogy, covering Dave & # 8217 ; s life from his hitch in the Air Force through the present twenty-four hours. From his resoluteness to be accepted by the Air Force to his about despairing finding to be a good male parent to his boy, Dave portions with the reader his trouble seting to a & # 8220 ; normal & # 8221 ; life.
Diverseness
The Pelzer household was white and in-between category. Dave & # 8217 ; s father, Stephen, was a fireman, and his female parent, Catherine, was a housewife. Both parents were alkies. They lived in a & # 8220 ; good & # 8221 ; vicinity in a modest place. Until the maltreatment began, Dave & # 8217 ; s life with his parents and brothers was good. In his words, & # 8220 ; Our every caprice was fulfilled with love and attention & # 8221 ; ( Pelzer, 1995 ) .
The two countries of diverseness I recognized in these books are economic position and disablement. Because of Dave & # 8217 ; s ragged vesture, unkempt visual aspect and unequal hygiene, he was an castaway at school. Though Dave & # 8217 ; s parents were financially capable of supplying for him, his female parent withheld from him nutrient, appropriate vesture and other basic stuff necessities of life. Dave took nutrient from other kids & # 8217 ; s tiffins at school in order to last. His classmates were cognizant of this, and it served to put him farther apart from them. The kids called him names and he had no friends.
Two of the disablements that were evident to me while reading these books were the alcohol addiction of Dave & # 8217 ; s parents and Dave & # 8217 ; s developmental issues.
Application of Developmental Theories
Families are systems in which each person has a alone relationship with the other persons in the household. Dave & # 8217 ; s topographic point in his household was, so, unique. The subsystem dwelling of Dave and his female parent had a foundation in the boundaries set by the female parent. Dave & # 8217 ; s function in the household was, basically, that he was non a portion of the household. Not merely that, Dave & # 8217 ; s individuality was stripped away by his female parent. At the oncoming of the maltreatment, she began mentioning to him as & # 8220 ; the boy. & # 8221 ; As the state of affairs worsened, she referred to him as & # 8220 ; It & # 8221 ; , hence the rubric of the first book in this series.
At the clip of Dave & # 8217 ; s deliverance, he exhibited two of the four behavioural indexs of maltreatment that were established in 1979 by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He exhibited & # 8220 ; excessively compliant, inactive and undemanding behaviours aimed at keeping a low profile, avoiding any possible confrontation with a parent which could take to mistreat & # 8221 ; ( U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1979, pp. 25-27 ) . An illustration of this would be his submissive, eyes-down stance when called to show to his female parent. He was besides behind developmentally, exhibiting hapless societal accomplishments and stuttering, and was physically little for his age. Though the standards for finding maltreatment alterations continuously and this is an old commendation, I feel it is still valid.
Erik Erikson & # 8217 ; s psychosocial development theory consists of eight phases of development ( Erikson, 1950 ) . Each phase is characterized by a different struggle that must be resolved by the person. When the environment makes new demands on an person, a struggle arises. & # 8220 ; The individual is faced with a pick between two ways of get bying with each crisis, an adaptative, or maladaptive manner. Merely when each crisis is resolved, which involves a alteration in the personality, does the individual have sufficient strength to cover with the following phases of development & # 8221 ; ( Schultz & A ; Schultz, 1987 ) . In other words, if a individual is unable to decide a struggle at a peculiar phase, they will face and fight with it later in life. Harmonizing to our text, a individual & # 8217 ; s ability to decide crises in ulterior life flexible joints on the grade of success he or she has covering with crises earlier in life ( Zastrow, 1997, p. 276 ) .
The first of Erikson & # 8217 ; s eight phases of development is & # 8220 ; Basic Trust versus Basic Mistrust & # 8221 ; ( birth to 18 months ) . Development of trust, the struggle of this phase, requires the comprehension that some people and things can be depended upon. Consistent, loving attention sets the phase for get bying with this crisis. From Dave & # 8217 ; s perspective, his early old ages provided an appropriate environment for the accomplishment of this phase. His happy memories, early on, of loving parents and the feelings of trust and safety that he recalls fit suitably with what Erikson & # 8217 ; s theory implies. I believe the impact of maltreatment later in his life caused Dave to return to this first phase, making a new battle for him sing trust. A Man Named Dave brings to illume his inability to truly trust anyone, particularly adult females.
Erikson & # 8217 ; s 2nd phase, & # 8220 ; Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt & # 8221 ; ( 18 months to three old ages ) , posits that the achievement of undertakings imbues kids with assurance and self-pride. The struggle or crisis of this phase is the battle to make for oneself. I believe it was during this phase of life that the rhythm of maltreatment began for Dave Pelzer. Throughout all three books in this series, his deficiency of religion in his ain abilities is a uninterrupted yarn that ties it all together. This belies the fact that he had, so, been able to outwit his female parent at her ain games on many occasions. If non for the superb header schemes he constructed as a kid, he would non hold survived.
Phase three is labeled & # 8220 ; Initiative versus Guilt. & # 8221 ; Between the ages of three to six old ages, kids are of course inclined to research, originate relationships and see the universe around them. Prosecuting these things requires inaugural, and serves as the struggle declaration for this phase. In Dave & # 8217 ; s state of affairs, he was systematically punished and terrorized for demoing inaugural. The terminal consequence of this intervention, harmonizing to Erikson, should be feelings of guilt for even desiring to make so many things. As a response to this guilt, the kid may go really inactive, choosing to be a follower, non a leader. I & # 8217 ; m non certain Dave & # 8217 ; s response is a good tantrum with what this phase of the theory suggests. Yes, he remains burdened with guilt to this twenty-four hours. But I would non name Dave a follower. When the Air Force turned him down, he showed the enterprise to make what was necessary to be accepted, even though it took
old ages.
Erikson & # 8217 ; s 4th phase is & # 8220 ; Industry versus Inferiority. & # 8221 ; This phase encompasses the timeframe of the most terrible period of maltreatment in Dave & # 8217 ; s life: six to twelve old ages of age. The importance of drama, academic accomplishment and productiveness in this phase can non be over emphatic. The command of these activities requires industry, therefore deciding the struggle of this phase. For Dave, drama clip was non an option. He had jobs in school, both academically and socially. During this clip, harmonizing to our text, & # 8220 ; Comparison with equals becomes exceptionally of import & # 8221 ; ( Zastrow, 1997, p. 277 ) . For Dave, this comparing was approximately every bit black as one could conceive of. He had to steal nutrient to last, and these nutrient larcenies were known to his equals. His vesture, deficiency of good hygiene and stuttering besides set him apart. Any one of these & # 8220 ; failures & # 8221 ; can forestall a declaration of the crisis of this phase. Dave was a & # 8220 ; failure & # 8221 ; at all of these things, ensuing in a really strong sense of lower status. Even one of the & # 8220 ; games & # 8221 ; his female parent concocted was designed to do him to neglect: She would coerce him to seek the house for things that didn & # 8217 ; t exist, so anguish him when he couldn & # 8217 ; t turn up the object in inquiry. The construct of this phase is a perfect tantrum with the worlds of Dave & # 8217 ; s life.
The crisis of the 5th phase is & # 8220 ; Identity versus Role Confusion. & # 8221 ; During adolescence, the period of life this phase addresses, Dave was traveling through the Foster attention system. Role confusion occurs when a individual can non incorporate the assorted functions they play into a perceptual experience of ego. Based on what we learned about adolescence in our Human Behavior category, this phase is hard in the best of state of affairss. For Dave, it must hold been impossible. Traditional functions found in a typical stripling & # 8217 ; s life ( sibling, kid, friend, etc. ) are skewed or absent wholly in Dave & # 8217 ; s life. He was non a boy or even a male child to his female parent: he was an & # 8220 ; It & # 8221 ; . At their female parent & # 8217 ; s insisting, his brothers did non handle him as a sibling. Dave had, basically, no topographic point or function in the household at all except as a mark for his female parent & # 8217 ; s warped games and anguishs.
& # 8220 ; Intimacy versus Isolation & # 8221 ; is the 6th phase of Erikson & # 8217 ; s theory and is the struggle of immature maturity. An confidant relationship requires the ability to portion thoughts and feelings with another without fearing the loss of one & # 8217 ; s ain individuality. Keeping in head that, to some grade, each of these phases builds on the successful declaration of the crises of the anterior phases, it & # 8217 ; s logical that Dave exhibited trouble come ining and keeping intimate relationships. As stated in our text, & # 8220 ; Some people are so busy seeking or keeping their individuality that they can non portion and express themselves in an confidant relationship & # 8221 ; ( Zastrow, 1997, p. 310 ) . Sing the likeliness of function confusion and & # 8220 ; perceptual experience of ego & # 8221 ; issues in Dave & # 8217 ; s life left over from adolescence, it & # 8217 ; s no surprise that his first matrimony was a catastrophe. I find it intriguing that he has such a apparently solid relationship with his ( 2nd ) married woman and boy.
Erikson & # 8217 ; s 7th phase of psychosocial development addresses the struggle of & # 8220 ; Generativity versus Stagnation & # 8221 ; in mature maturity. ( The eighth phase, & # 8220 ; Ego Integrity versus Despair & # 8221 ; , is non covered in this paper because it addresses old age. ) The accomplishment of generativity implies an unselfish attitude that looks beyond oneself and toward an sweetening of society. From volunteerism to church activities to parts of planetary significance, generativity is important to the growing and endurance of society. Dave & # 8217 ; s behaviour is most surely different than this phase of Erikson & # 8217 ; s theory predicts. Dave & # 8217 ; s life as a mature grownup is committed to the improvement of society. He travels throughout the state as an inspirational and motivational talker. Though our text for this class explicitly states that going a parent does non vouch generativity, Dave & # 8217 ; s boy seems to be the focal point of this passion to do the universe a better topographic point. He is besides really determined to non reiterate the errors of his ain parents.
By all histories, Dave Pelzer should non hold achieved generativity. His continued deficiency of self-esteem combined with the other issues addressed in this paper would bespeak a sensitivity to depression, pessimism and an unwillingness to put in the hereafter of others. This is kindred to accomplishing self-actualization ( Maslow, 1954 ) without first fulfilling the first four degrees of demands.
Remarks
I can non state that I enjoyed these books. They were a powerful read, but non something I could urge to person for a restful weekend of reading. The first book is the most compelling, followed by the 2nd. I found it really hard to wade through the 3rd book, though I can non calculate out why.
Although I find it upseting that Dave & # 8217 ; s female parent was ne’er convicted of any offenses, I understand that the construction of society was different back so. Dave is a small younger than I am, and I know from personal experience that instructors, counsellors, neighbours and jurisprudence enforcement functionaries of the twenty-four hours looked the other manner sing issues of kid maltreatment. At that clip, things such as kid maltreatment and other signifiers of domestic force were considered to be & # 8220 ; personal problems & # 8221 ; , non & # 8220 ; public issues & # 8221 ; .
It seems astonishing to me that Dave emerged from his embattled childhood with such a positive attitude. How could he be as emotionally healthy as the books lead the reader to believe? My ain experience as a victim of kid maltreatment was a far call from what Dave endured, yet it has been hard for me to develop and keep self-esteem, assurance and a sense of integrity. Sing what Dave went through, it seems uneven that he is so sound. I besides find Dave & # 8217 ; s evident generativity to be a contradiction. Am I losing something? What caused Dave & # 8217 ; s female parent to individual him out as the mark of her onslaughts? Is it even possible that Dave & # 8217 ; s early remembrance of a perfect household life is a false memory created as a defence mechanism?
After sing these inquiries, I did some more research. I discovered that Dave spoke in Toledo last twelvemonth. I managed to happen a smattering of people who heard him talk. I was slightly surprised that the reaction to his speech production battles was so tepid. As one respondent put it, & # 8220 ; He would be better off remaining at place authorship. Until I heard him talk, I was in awe of him. Now I see him as merely anouther [ sic ] victim, stating us with his words that he doesn & # 8217 ; t want our commiseration, yet imploring for it on another degree. Methinks he doth protest excessively much & # 8221 ; ( Anonymous respondent, personal communicating, March 31, 2000 ) . The general consensus seemed to be that Dave & # 8217 ; s brash wit and self-generated caricatures hide a mind that is still awfully damaged. I submit that, possibly, what appears to be generativity is merely Dave & # 8217 ; s ongoing attempt to make & # 8220 ; the right thing & # 8221 ; in an attempt to achieve the unachievable: his female parent & # 8217 ; s love.
Bibliography
Mentions
Erikson, E. H. , ( 1950 ) . Childhood and Society. New York: Norton.
Erikson, E. H. , ( 1968 ) . Identity: Young person and Crisis. New York: Norton.
Maslow, A. H. ( 1954 ) . Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper & A ; Row.
Pelzer, D. ( 1995 ) . A Child Called & # 8220 ; It & # 8221 ; . Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.
Pelzer, D. ( 1997 ) . The Lost Boy. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.
Pelzer, D. ( 1999 ) A Man Named Dave. New york: Penguin Putnam, Inc.
Schultz, D. P. , & A ; Schultz, S. E. ( 1987 ) . A History of Modern Psychology. Orlando, FL:
Harcourt-Brace.
U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. ( 1979 ) . [ Brochure ] . Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing office.
Zastrow, C. , & A ; Kirst-Ashman, K. K. ( 1997 ) . Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment. ( 4th ed. ) Chicago: Nelson-Hall Publishers, Inc.
