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Jason was referred for diagnostic study at the age of seven on the recommendation of his headmistress at the end of his first year of school. He was showing no progress in learning, still could not write his own name, sat in class in an unresponsive, dream-like posture, and was timid and isolated from his schoolmates.
In interviews with his mother, a picture emerged of a boy who was very eager to please, terribly frightened of any admonition, and completely compliant with regard to his parents’ wishes. His passivity was disturbing to his mother who had questioned whether he was not ‘too good’ and doubted his having any initiative. Mrs T. noted wryly that if she were to tell her son to stand in the corner, he would do so and remain there without questioning or moving. It was with regard to his lack of emotional responsiveness that Mrs T. was most troubled. Jason rarely showed any pleasure. Any demonstrations of affection had to be solicited and were then given reluctantly. In contrast to her other two boys, Arthur, aged ten, and Charles, aged five, Jason showed a blank expression on birthdays and other festive occasions. One of the few apparent pleasures was to watch television programmes of cowboys and Indians in which he seemed totally absorbed. In watching comedies, he was a sober spectator while his brothers responded with hilarity. He did cry on occasions, notably when a harsh word was spoken either to him, his brother or his dog.
Mrs T. described him as getting along well with his brothers. She insisted that jealousy was an unknown phenomenon in the family, and noted that Jason often seemed content