The Parentified Child

Paper Summary:

The paper focuses on the experience of the parentified child, one who is forced by circumstances to assume a role normally assigned to the parents in a family setting. The paper discusses the parentification process and the situations in which this may occur. The paper also examines the fine line between a parentified child and one who is mature, highly intelligent and driven. In addition, the paper discusses how a single parent can be especially vulnerable to a mature child's manipulations.

From the Paper:

"Parentification is not a new phenomenon, and, simplistically, the parentified child is one forced by circumstances to assume a role normally assigned to the parents in a family setting. Typically it refers to the child in those families which have a parent unable or unwilling to see to their own needs, either emotionally or physically and begin, in essence, a role reversal with one or more of their children.
"In some situations the role reversal is so total, in families where the parent is a non functioning alcoholic or drug abuser, that the child takes total control of his life. He does household chores, feeding and dressing himself and making life decisions."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bend-in-the-river.com 2007 Questions and Answers Retrieved 2-5-2007 from:http://bend-in-the-river.com/ansgeneral1.html
• focusonyourchild.com 2005 Helping Children Survive Divorce Retrieved 2-5-2007 from: http://www.focusonyourchild.com/relation/art1/A0001349.html
• Homestudycredit.com no date Detecting A History of Undisclosed of IncestRetrieved 1-4-2004 from: http://www.homestudycredit.com/courses/contentSA/secSA11.html
• Pitt.edu no date Assuming the Parental Role Within the Family Retrieved 2-5-2007 from: http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/oerp/Family/PH38Flyer.pdf.

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