Chapter Four. A Three-Year-Old Uses the Gang as Container1

This case is of particular interest since it provides an opportunity to observe the containing function of the gang in a child as young as three years of age. It demonstrates the difference between the defensive qualities of the gang as “second skin” and somatic symptoms. In the fourth session, the parents' unfulfilled childhood becomes apparent.

When talking to Mrs Harris about young-child observation, I explained the difficulties that arose as a result of my work not giving me the opportunity to often visit nursery schools. Then it occurred to me that I might be able to observe a young child who was recovering from a physical illness in the paediatric department of the hospital where I worked as a consultant, and where parents are allowed to stay with their children. Mrs Harris said this was a good idea, and I then made inquiries about the 2-3 year old children who were in hospital. I excluded one who was in the isolation ward with an infectious illness because I wished to make the first observation