THE FEELING CHILD: Preventing Neurosis in Children

by Arthur Janov ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1973

Freud, it seems, was a conservative: you can start messing up your children while they're in the womb. Hormone changes are inherited, ""the nervous system is an organized, integrated system,"" the slightest tick can traumatize; the neonate will be neurotic if the mother gives birth prematurely, belatedly, laboriously or by Caesarean section. And if she doesn't lactate, breast feed, steps out to the movies before the baby's nine months' old (""it's traumatic for an infant to be fed a bottle by a sitter. . .""), isn't at his constant beck and call, one day he'll be uncoordinated, tense, pigeon-toed and in Primal Therapy screaming Maaa. . . (whereupon all those ugly symptoms will disappear; the book is filled with testimony that they do). Janov's ideal is the primevally primitive food-gathering tribe ""whose style of life says all that needs to be said about child rearing."" But since we all can't roam around in bands, ""Primalling"" will have to substitute. So get started building that Primal Room and teach your children how -- we are told of parents who have done it, starting at the age of two. Eeeeow!

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1973

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1973

Categories: NONFICTION