Stockholm Syndrome - was No sympathy for Kreacher

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 124720


> phoenixgod2000:
> That very special thing about Harry is called Writers Fiat. The 
> author needs Harry to not be a complete basketcase so he is not. A 
> real child growing up in his surroundings would be a sociopath. <snip>

Carol responds:
I strongly disagree with this statement. Children are different from
birth, with innate tendencies toward timidity or aggression or
cheerfulness that shape them just as much as their environment does.
Also, many children are much more resilient than postmodern
victimization theories concede them to be. And the abuse by the
Dursleys is moderate by comparison with much real-life abuse. In fact,
their child-rearing theories, at least with regard to Harry, resemble
the *normal* view (spare the rod, spoil the child) that prevailed from
biblical times to the first half of the twentieth century. Even after
Dr. Spock started writing child-rearing manuals that encouraged
everything from breast-feeding to playing with your child, spanking
was still common and accepted, as was sending a child to bed without
supper. Yelling at your children was also common (as I remember all
too well). Children were expected to do chores (as Harry is expected
to cook breakfast, a skill more boys should learn).

I'm not advocating Dursley-style child-rearing, particularly not
forcing children to sleep in closets (or cupboards, to use the British
term). But such an upbringing does not necessarily or even normally
produce sociopaths (or anti-social children). If it did, most of the
children born in the U.S. and Britain before, say, 1970 would be
sociopaths.

Carol