RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Conversations in a taxi: firearms and forks. A systemic analysis of youth crime
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 453
OP 455
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.7-5-453
VO 7
IS 5
A1 Camila Batmanghelidjh
YR 2007
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/7/5/453.abstract
AB By dismissing children who behave dangerously as ‘morally flawed’ society manages to place the blame for social breakdown on the most vulnerable. Children acquire the status of ‘demons’ and civil society is perceived as ‘angelic’. In simplistic narratives the complexity is disguised. However, medical science is presenting a different paradigm. The quality of care a child receives sculpts their capacity to regulate emotion and energy. Failure of care by biological and corporate parents is forcing children to resort to savagery in order to survive corrupted inner cities. Civil society seeks power by distributing punishment, imprisonment, and sanctions. The abandoned child similarly seeks status by generating a reputation for causing harm. No one is winning. For the ‘demon’ and the ‘angel’ to partner in delivering a solution the polarisation needs to be diminished. The vulnerable child cannot solely be made responsible for adult failings.