A CLINICAL INVESTIGATION OF IMPAIRMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY AGGRESSION WITH REFERENCE TO THE WORK OF HENRI PARENS

This thesis investigates how impairments and arrests in the development of ordinary
healthy aggression interfere with development in general. I review the literature on
aggression, particularly in relation to Henri Parens' concept of a spectrum of aggression.
I describe two cases seen in a general CAMH service. The clinical material from the
first year of therapy for each case is subjected to Grounded Theory coding to ensure that
aggression has not been prejudiced over other significant factors. I describe the two
cases using Anna Freud's Diagnostic Profile and Developmental Lines to trace the
development of aggression within the broader context of more general development. I
compare their respective progress with reference to Parens' work, using his spectrum to
hypothesise that in some children there is a confusion of ordinary healthy aggression (or
developmental assertiveness) with destructiveness. I suggest that this confusion inhibits
development across several areas. Finally I discuss some possible implications for
clinical practice.