Discussion:
Child Psychology Therapy Scenario
Suppose you are the therapist who is working with a family who is adopting a 5 year old (female) child who was physically abused in her family of origin. She has no conscious memory of the abuse because she was removed from the family at age 19 months of age. She has had temper tantrums ever since she came into the foster care system.
The adopting family has 3 other children ages 9, 11, and 12 and have used spanking in moderation, time outs, sending the children to their rooms for thinking time, and positive reinforcement (token economy). These methods have been very successful with their children. The 5 year old has been in their home for 3 months and the tantrums continue along with an increase in "naughty" behavior, particularly when mom is with the child and dad is at work. When dad comes home, our little girl is a "model" child.
As a therapist, what advice and method(s) of discipline would you suggest that the family use with their new daughter and what response do you think that they might expect to the different forms of discipline that they have used with their other children?
Which parent should be administering the majority of the discipline?
Why do you think this child is acting as she is with her new family?
Personal opinion - and at least one reference to support your answer or comments.