Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-03
A BOOK FOR PARENTS
Here's to him,
By H. Addington Bruce

BY h. AddlngtOn bruce
nee more a medical psychologist issues
{ an urgent appeal to parents for more
~ home training of their children IN thG
interest of the children's health and happiness
in adult life. The psychologist in this in
stance is DIR. T. A. Williams, OF washington
D. c. and his appeal comes in the form OF
book entitled breads and Besetting Fears.
AS specialist in the treatment of nervous
affections. DR.. Williams has had long expe-
rience with the fear-harasse1. They nave
come to him seeking RELIEF from all manner
of disabilities rooted in fear disabilities rang
ing from chronic doubling and tndecision to
obsessive anxeties regarding their sanity and
health.
And again and again, probing for the origin
of their handicapping states of worry, ankle
ty, and outright terror, he has definitely
traced these to errors in their upbrlnSing
Instead of a training which, through charac-
ter building has lifted them to minimize the
unpleasant and to meet life's hazards bravely,
he has found that in childhood they were
subjected to influences weakening to the
morale and in many instances directly engen-
dering a fear habit
Forgetful both of the suggestiblity Of child
hood and of the lasting effect of childhood
impressions, the parents Of these nervous pa
tients unwittingly inculcated in them ideas
Of a dstressful sort Whereas, indeed, as
DR.. Williams is at pains to point out, not
only should be taken to safeguard chill
dren from needless emotional stresses but
for the sake of their normal development
special should be taken to avoid creating
in them ideas and sentiments of inferiority
compared with other children.
In proof whereof he cites numerous IN
stances from his medical practice, of which
unfortunately I have space to quote only one:
"a contrast in treatment is shown in the
case Of two little girls living in the same
neighborhood, both inclined to be diffident
because they were much overgrown and of a
gangling and awkward build.
"One child continually reminded by
the members Of her family that she was too
big to engage in certain games and competi-
lions in which her playmates participated.
Her awkwardness considered a family
joke which the child was expected to tolerate
good-naturedly.
She grew up believing that she was des-
tined always to be laughing stock as far as
gait and posture were concerned, and there
fore never undertook to swim, ride, play ten
mis-, skate dance or disport herself In any
way among others. Not only did she miss a
great deal of pleasure, but her physical de-
velopment was hindered and the self-con-
seriousness thus fostered had a marked effect
upon her character.
"The other child given contrary sug-
gestions of superior physique.
THE word awkward was never mentioned.
She was given lessons in esthetic dancing in
which she became expert, and, although
nearly six feet tall, at the age of sixteen she
was noted for her physical poise and grace.
If ridicule may do grave harm, so, as Dr.
Williams emphasizes, may such parental En-
rors over-solicitude, the setting of a con-
slant example Of worry, constant frightening
of children a OF discipline. To
these and similar training faults, as he makes
plain, countless adult obsessions by fear are
due.
| Also he makes plain. the other hand
that the evil thus wrought is not irremedable.
| If his book, breads and Besetting Fears" is
a book of warning to parents it equally is a
book of hope for the fearatflicted at any
age they may be helped to conquer 1t with
| our external help. OF this more again.