Mental Health in Children

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the development of a child's mental health. The paper examines the "nature versus nurture" debate, presenting various opinions on the topic. The paper contends that mental health cannot be attributed to either nature or nurture, claiming that genetics, as well as environmental effects, influence the development of one's mental health.

From the Paper:

"The field of child psychiatry probably had its birth in 1899 Chicago, when social activists such as Jane Addams led the city to form the country's first juvenile court (Schowalter, 2003). Hull was dismayed by the juvenile delinquency she saw in the poor part of the city. The establishment of juvenile courts raised awareness regarding the number of youth with psychological problems, and experts started to study the issue in an attempt to determine its causes (Schowalter, 2003). Child guidance clinics opened across the country, with clinicians traveling to Europe to study with psychoanalysts such as Anna Freud and Melanie Klein (Schowalter, 2003). From the beginning, clinicians in this new field wondered whether nature, nurture, or some combination resulted in troubled youth. Skinner's behaviorism was popular for a while although it did not produce good results and faded in interest."

More papers on Mental Health in Children:

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• Persuasive Essay # 136219 : "Mental Health Services in Schools"
• Essay # 100693 : "The Illinois Children's Mental Health Act of 2003"

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