Reading between the lines: The child's fear of meaning⋆This paper was originally given in Chicago in August 1989 at the Fifth International Educational Therapy Conference.

Abstract:

This paper explores the emotional factors that lie behind a child's failure to read. My observations are based on work as an educational therapist employed in a child guidance unit. In trying to understand the reasons for the child's neurotic reluctance to learn, the following sources have proved helpful: Klein on envy; Bowlby on the effect on the child of a relationship with an untrustworthy adult; and Bettelheim's Learning to Read . In conclusion some ways are examined in which the child can be helped to overcome his fear of the meaning of words.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/02668739100700131