Some Thoughts on Eccentricity and Victimization: A Report on the Treatment of a Latency Boy

Eccentric children often suffer quite brutal treatment at the hands of their peers. What is it in their inner world - conflicts, fantasies, defences - that plays in to the group ostracization? This paper discusses the treatment of a latency boy with a history of “weird” behaviour and bullying at school and in the neighbourhood. The therapy was in a sense a limited intervention since we had one and a half years of twice-weekly treatment before Justin moved away from London with his family. Yet his investment in his “therapy lessons”, as he termed them, facilitated our insight into the dialectic process between the bizarre child and his environment, as well as the inner dilemmas of this unusual and endearing child.

Justin was 11 when his parents emerged from years of despair and pain and took stock of their eldest child. At the time of referral Justin had a long list of miserable symptoms that reached back a long time. His parents described him as withdrawn and in an unhappy world of his own. He was emotional, babyish and sucked his thumb. Bedwetting had stopped only a few years earlier. At the age of 9 Justin was transferred to another school because of severe physical bullying. The problem was alleviated by the change but difficulties with peers continued. Academically he was behind because of problems in concentration and his resistance to change. The parents used the word “weird” to describe his peculiar mannerisms which drew attention and teasing, such as incessant humming and handflapping.

The notion of damage emerged after a traumatic birth when the doctors assured the parents that their baby was not brain-damaged. Because of this the parents felt that everything he did seemed perfect and they indulged him. This “good enough” early infancy is important in light of the later history. When Justin was 3 years old mother suffered the first of a number of miscarriages, until Justin's sister Lily was born when he was 6. The years of attempting to carry throug