BEHAVIORIST ANALYSIS Child Abuse In Dave Pelzer’s Trilogy A Child Called It (1993), The Lost Boy (1995), And A Man Named Dave (1999).

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This chapt er deals w it h t he behaviorist analysis t hat concerned in analysis of t he influence of environment in t he personalit y development of t he major charact er in t rilogy A Child Called It , The Lost Boy, and A M an Nam ed Dave. This chapt er is divided int o t w o. The first is influence of environment covering home environment , fost er care environment , and larger societ y environment . The second is discussion w hich discusses t he relat ionship of David’s personalit y development in child abuse w it h t he t rilogy.

A. The Influence of Environment

Environment is t he circumst ances or condit ions t hat surround one.The various environment s t hat one encount er in day-t o-day life have an impact on his overall behaviors and at t it udes. From t he home life t o societ y life, environment s can eit her be a posit ive or negat ive influence.

In t rilogy A Child Called It , The Lost Boy, and A M an Nam ed Dave, t he major charact er get s some influences from t he environment . The influence t hat he get s come from t hree different environment s. The first influence he get s from home environment , t he second influence is from fost er care, and t he last influence comes from larger societ y.

David st ayed at home since child unt il 12 years old. Next , he cont inued his life in fost er homes from t he age of 12 t o 18 aft er survived from home. Then he spent his adult hood in larger societ y environm ent . From t hose t hree different environment s, he shapes his behavior and at t it ude.

1. Home Environment

Family is t he first communit y t hat one meet since born. Fam ily usually consist s of fat her, mot her, and child. Fam ily has import ant role in shaping one’s behavior. The family environment can influence one’s behavior negat ively or posit ively.It also happens t o t he m ajor charact er David. He get s bot h posit ive and negat ive influence in fam ily environment .

David’s life st art ed out w ell. He lived in Daly Cit y, California, w it h his mot her, fat her, and t w o brot hers. In t hese very early years he said it w as full of love.

In t he years before I w as abused, m y family w as the “ Brady Bunch” of t he 1960s. M y t w o brot hers and I were blessed w it h t he perfect parent s. Our every w him w as fulfilled wit h love and care (ACCI: 15).

Soon, how ever, t hings t ook an aw ful t urn for t he w orse. This mot her’s discipline t urned int o punishment t hat grew out of cont rol. The horrendous abuse he suffered at t he hands of his alcoholic, ment ally dist urbed mot her nearly killed him.

M y relationship w it h M om drast ically changed from discipline t hat developed int o a kind of lifest yle t hat grew out of control. It became so bad at t im es, I had no st rengt h t o crawl aw ay – even if it meant saving m y life (ACCI: 21).

David grew up in a home w it h an unloving mot her, a fat her w ho refused t o deal w it h his ow n son’s mist reat ment and brot hers w ho saw David as t he household maid. It w as not unt il t he love of a t eacher t hat David finally escaped t he abuse of his ow n mot her.

I hated M ot her m ost and wished t hat she were dead (ACCI: 78).

David really hat ed his mot her because she abused him by any w ay she t hinks unt il David nearly dead. Therefore, he hopes for mot her’s deat h and he can free from mot her’s t ort ure.

I also hat ed Fat her. He w as fully aw are of t he hell I lived in, but he lacked t he courage t o rescue m e as he had prom ised so m any t im es in t he past (ACCI: 79).

David also hat ed his fat her because fat her only did not hing w hen he saw w hat mot her did t o him. He had ever prom ised t o rescue David but he never perform his promise.

The boys w ho lived upst airs w ere no longer my brot hers. Som et im es in years past , t hey had m anaged t o encourage m e a lit t le. But in t he sum m er of 1972 t hey t ook t urns hit t ing m e and appeared t o enjoy t hrow ing t heir w eight around. It w as obvious t hat t hey felt superior t o t he fam ily slave (ACCI: 79).

His siblings w ere also annoying David. They join t o mot her’s game t o underest imat e him and hit him.

The eight years of const ant t ort ure have sucked my life force out of m e (AM ND: 10).

When David w as nine years old he suffers from his mot her’s t reat s. He is t orment ed in t hat house as a child. It becomes a prison t o David. His t eachers at school called for police t o free him .

The officer smiles w it h relief, as we leave t he cit y limit s. “ David Pelzer,” he says, “ you’re free.” (ACCI: 13)

a. Significant Ot hers

The most influent ial in shaping his charact er since at home w as his mot her. His fat her only gives him lit t le influence. Beside t hat , t he aut hor only ment ioned a lit t le about school especially about his t eachers.

In t his environment most ly David spent his t ime w it h his parent s. Because of t hat reason t he lesson t hat he learned most ly comes from t hem, especially his mot her, from her he learned many t hings t hat import ant affect ed in his behavior.

1) Cat herine Roerva (M ot her)

Roerva w as a mot her of David. She w as a homemaker and an alcoholic w ho st art ed abusing David w hen he w as four years old.

Once, w hen I was four or five years old, M om said she w as sick, and I rem em ber feeling t hat she did not seem t o be herself at all (ACCI: 15).

Roerva played t ort uous and unpredict able games t hat left David nearly dead. She considered David no longer as a son but a slave; no longer a boy, but an ‘it ’.

By t he t ime I w as eight , m y name w as no longer allowed t o be spoken. She had replaced “ David” w it h “ The Boy” . Soon The Boy seem ed t oo personal, so she decided t o call m e “ It ” (ACCI: 9).

M ot her is port rayed as ugly bot h physically and emot ionally. She is over-w eight and t akes no int erest in her appearance. Far w orse, she is vicious and physically abusive of David. She made David w ash dishes in scalding w at er, unable t o remove his hands.

Roerva w as ment ally ill. She w as a hit t er. Roerva made David eat his brot her’s feces, drink ammonia, and w ould hold his arm over a gas st ove. She really hat ed David and absolut ely w ant ed David die. It can be seen from m ot her’s st at ement :

“ if you don’t finish on t im e, I’m going t o kill you!” (ACCI: 51)

Physically, she w as seen t o an evil person but she usually w ore black glasses t o hide her evil face, and show n everybody t hat she w as regal. Besides, she had dark yellow t eet h. She planned everyt hing against David.

Above m e The M ot her st ands poised, revealing her yellow t eet h and putrid, st eam y breat h (AM ND: 46).

Socially, she seemed t o cont rol t he ot her. It could be seen w hen she forced her husband t o keep silent , and t o ignore David. Ot herw ise, mot her didn’t w ant t o be cont rolled by ot hers.

M ot her now had com plet e cont rol over everybody in the household (ACCI: 61).

At home, David’s life is like in hell because he get s t ort ure from his mot her. His mot her alw ays asks David t o do chores. One lesson t hat can be t aken from mot her is t hat M ot her’s order must be performed. If David doesn’t do it properly, he w ill get punishment . He also must obey all t he rules she makes. Breaking t he rules means punishment . Therefore, he became obedience t o mot her.

2) St ephen Joseph (Fat her)

St ephen w as a fat her of David. He is t all and has w ell build body w it h m uscle and black eyebrow s.

He st ood about five feet t en inches t all, and he w eighed about 190 pounds. He had broad shoulders and forearm s t hat w ould m ake any m uscle m an proud. His t hick black eyebrow s m atched his hair (ACCI: 15).

He w orked as a fireman in San Francisco. He is heroic. As a fireman, his job is t o save people’s life from fire.

M y fat her, St ephen Joseph, support ed his fam ily as a firem an, w orking in the heart of San Francisco (ACCI: 15).

He also prot ect ed David carefully. He loved his son very much. But unfort unat ely t he mot her cont rolled him in everyt hing. His once rigid shoulders w ere now slumped over, because of his habit of drink.

Fat her becam e m y prot ect or (ACCI: 23).

His years of drinking and t he st rained relat ionship w it h his w ife have t aken t heir t oll on him. And t he w ife made him a beat en man. St ephen refused t o deal w it h his ow n son’s mist reat ment , and brot hers w ho saw David as t he household maid.

He ignored David and event ually left , leaving David alone. Aft er leaving t he broken home, St ephen physically became w eaker and w eaker.

Socially, St ephen w as a good hard w orker. He had so many friends. He ret ired early for he faced many t roubles in his life t hat made him useless. His habit s of drinking dest royed his ow n life.

David t ot ally hat es his fat her because of his w eakness of being cont rolled by mot her. His fat her has been ever promished t o free him from t hat home. But t hat quest is only a w ish, never performed.

At t hat m om ent I hat ed M ot her t o no end, but I hat ed Fat her even m ore. The m an w ho had helped m e in t he past , just st ood like a st at ue w hile his son at e som et hing even a dog w ouldn’t t ouch. (ACCI: 42)

How ever, t he image of his fat her as a hero cannot be brushed from his mind. David learns t o be hero from his fat her.

Sit t ing on the far end of the couch w as m y hero. I knew he w ould t ake care of M ot her and drive m e t o t he hospit al (ACCI: 53).

3) Friends and t eachers at Thomas Edison Element ary School

School as a place w here every child spent t heir t ime t o acquire a lot of t hings also has it s influence in form ing t heir charact er. The influences t hose are carried aw ay by every member of t his environment such as peers and t eachers play an import ant key in shaping his behavior.

In t his book t he school environt ment of t he major charact er is a place t o get free from home. School w as a heaven for David t hat he w as t hrilled t o be aw ay from M ot her. At home, he couldn’t do anyt hing he w ant . At school, he expressed his feeling like a w ild child.

School w as a haven for m e. I w as t hrilled t o be aw ay from M ot her. At recess I w as a wild m an (ACCI: 45).

David made friends easily and felt so happy t o be at school. He w as also a clever kid in his class. But one day mot her st at ed t hat David w as t o be held back from t he first grade because he w as a bad boy. M ot her cont inued t o roar t hat he had shamed t he family and w ould be severely punished.

In addit ion, w hen mot her seldom gave him meals, David st ole food at school. His clot h w as never changed and his body smelt badly. His school friends began t o set him aw ay and t o insult him as “ David t he Food Thief” and “ Pelzer- Smellzer” .

“ David t he Food Thief” and “ Pelzer- Smellzer” were t w o of t he playground favorit es (ACCI: 36).

At school David w as a t ot al out cast. No ot her kid w ould have anyt hing t o do w it h him. He learned t o be int rovert from his friends.

At school I w as a t ot al outcast . No ot her kid w ould have anyt hinally, I devised a plan t hat might w ork (ACCI: 36).

In t he same opinion w it h st udent s, t he t eachers at first looked dow n t o David t oo. They saw David as a bad boy w ho liked t o st eal. Soon, t hey knew t hat David got abuse at home and began t o have sympat hy t o him. They called police and set him free from home.

The police officer explains w hy M r Hansen called him (ACCI: 11).

David w as very t hanksful t o his t eachers. Because of t hem, he could be free from mot her. They are t he t rue heroes of escaping David from abuse. They are merit orious for him. David learned t o be hero from his t eachers, especially t o survive t he abused child like him.

b. Lesson Learned from 4 t o 12

The age of four t o t w elve is t he age w hen David got abuse from his mot her. In his childhood, he got some lessons from people around him at home. Lessons learned t hat David got in t his age are:

1) Responsiveness

During st aying at home, David becomes responsive for everyt hing t hat w ill happen t o him. He can read w hat mot her w ill do and t ake some act s as t he response before t he worst t hing happens. For example, w hen mot her gave him food, he had grabbed and eat en t he food before mot her t hrew it . He also suddent ly used his arms and hands t o prot ect himself from mot her’s beat ing. This responsiveness leads him t o do everyt hing in quick w ay.

as quickly as I can, I sw allow it before M ot her changes her m ind (ACCI: 7).

I do everyt hing as fast as possible (ACCI: 9)

David can also read t he condit ion of his mot her alt hough he is st ill a child. He knew w hen t he mot her w ould be kind from t he dress and t he voice. When m ot her dressed w ell it s mean no beat ing. The voice can be seen from t he t one. The higher mot her’s voice t he angrier she is.

As a four year old child, I knew by t he sound of M ot her’s voice w hat t ype of day w as in st ore for m e (AM ND: 8).

2) Obedience

David should do all her mot her’s order or he w ould get punishment and didn’t get food. Therefore, David has t o be obedient t o mot her.

I learned t he hard w ay that she takes t hat as an act of defiance, w hich m eans m ore hit s, or w orst of all, no food (ACCI: 7).

The obedience appears not because David loves his mot her but because he is afraid of her, for being got more hit s or no food. He is just like a prison of w ar w ho must do all t he order from t he superior or a slave w ho must obey t he mast er’s w ords. The superior or t he mast er is mot her and t he oppressed or t he slave is David.

The mot her also fright ened David t o kill him if he didn’t cat ch t he job on t ime. Willing unw illing, David should be obedient t o mot her. It can be seen from mot her’s st at ement t hat she w ould kill David.

“ if you don’t finish on t im e, I’m going t o kill you!” (ACCI: 51)

3) Survive

Some w ays David did t o survive. For inst ance, David st ole his friend’s lunch boxes t o get food because mot her didn’t feed him, he used t o imagine t o lose his hunger or t o escape from burden of life.

Being st arved, David st ole food. He began st ealing at school from his friends’ lunch boxes. He st ole before school w hen his friends w ere playing out side. He w ould sneak t o t he w all and made sure t hat no body could see him t hen he grap t heir lunch.

... m y hunger for food w as replaced wit h daydreaming. I fant asized w henever perform ing m y chores at t he house. On m y hands and knees w hile scrubbing t he bat hroom tiles, I im agined I w as t he prince in t he st ory “ The Prince and t he Pauper” . (ACCI: 37)

If David couldn’t st eal food, t he safet y w ay is to dream. He dreams of food t herefore he can imagine as if he eat s t he food. In addit ion, David survived by imagining himself as a prince w ho lives w ell and happy in t he palace w it hout doing any chores.

4) Opt imist ic

M ot her used t o abuse David t hrough beat ing, scolding amonia, burning on fire, breaking his arms et c. What ever mot her abused David, he w ouldn’t give up t o survive. He w as opt imist t hat he could survive from mot her’s abuse. David’s comm it ment t o survive can be seen from t he st at ement :

M ot her can beat me all she w ant s, but I haven’t let her t ake aw ay m y w ill t o som ehow survive (ACCI: 7).

From t he st at ement above, it can be seen t hat David w ant s t o survive alt hough mot her oft en beat s him. David w ant s t o survive because he w ant s t o prove t hat he isn’t useless, he is not t rash. He

also w ant s t o lose mot her by surviving. The m ot her w ill not be a w inner as long as David is st ill alive. Being kept w arm and breat h mean t hat he is st ill alive.

5) Int rovert

David doesn’t belong t o fam ily in his home but slave. He w as separat ed from his siblings. He w as not allow ed t o eat t oget her. He w as also prohibit ed from joining t he picnic. He spent most ly his t ime at home.

By t his time, for all pract ical purposes, I w as no longer a m em ber of t he family (ACCI: 31).

M oreover, he had no friends at school. He w as a t ot al out cast for having bad smell on body because he never changed clot h. No one w ould play w it h him. He kept st aying alone. Therefore, David became int rovert .

At school I w as a t ot al out cast . No ot her kid w ould have anyt hing t o do w ith m e (TLB: 36).

How ever, t he int rovert is shaped because David doesn’t believe anyone. He hat ed mot her w ho abused him; he hat ed fat her w ho did not hing seeing his son being abused; he also hat ed his siblings w ho w ere playing happily w hile he w as doing chores. Because of t hat , he is difficult t o belief someone and becomes int rovert .

2. Foster Care Environment

Aft er being survived by his t eachers, David is sent t o fost er home. This new environment is really different from home. Therefore some of his behaviors change since he becomes fost er child.

a. Significant Ot hers 1) Aunt M ary

Aunt M ary is an elderly w oman w ho kept David at her house from t he first t ime he became a fost er child. At aunt M ary’s house, David met seven anot her fost er child like him. He just knew t here w ere anot her unw ant ed kids like him. Aunt M ary is st rict and discipline.

Aunt M ary w as a st rict , elderly w om an w ho st ood her ground, but she didn’t yell as she w as know n t o do (TLB: 32).

From t he st at ement above, Aunt M ary seems strict but she is kind not as w hat people around said. She reflect grabbed David’s arm and about t o scold him w hen David act ed w ild and uncont rolled but she cancelled it as she looked dow n at David w ho w as covered his face and his knees began t o shake.

The lesson David learned from Aunt M ary is not to be t oo close w it h anyone because some day David must leave t he home. If David leave t he home, he w ill be very sad if he is t oo close w it h t he family.

The first tw o ultim ate rules of being a fost er child t hat I had learned w hile at Aunt M ary’s w ere never t o becom e t oo at t ached t o anyone and never t o t ake som eone’s home for grant ed.(TLB: 134)

2) M s Gold

M s Gold is a social w orker w ho helps David t o free from his mot her’s hand. Because of her, David is sent enced t o be a w and of court and becomes fost er child. His mot her cannot abuse him anymore. M s Gold is described as a w oman w ho is kind and has long and blond hair. She is very care w it h David and t hey are close each ot her.

Her long, shiny blond hair and bright face m atched her name. “ Hi, ” she sm iled. “ I’m your social w orker.” (TLB: 32)

David learned t o be honest and brave from M s Gold. Act ually, David w as afraid t o t ell t he t rut h about him and mot her. By M s Gold’s help, David t old t he t rut h honest ly. He also learned t o be confident t hat David w as not sick but t he mot her. Therefore, he w ouldn’t blame himself about his past life. David shouldn’t get t he bad t reat from mot her. The abuse mot her did t o David shouldn’t be done. David w asn’t w rong.

She w ould t hen bend dow n and assure me t hat I did not deserve t o be t reat ed the w ay I w as and t hat w hat m y m ot her did t o m e w as not my fault (TLB: 33).

3) Fost er Parent s

David moved five t imes from one fost er home t o t he ot her. His fost er parent s are: Rudy and Lilian Cat anze, M ichael and Joanne Nulls,

Jody and Vera Jones, John and Linda Walsh, and Harold and Alice Turnbough. David learned about love and freedom from his fost er parent s. The love he doesn’t get from mot her and fat her and freedom t o prove t hat he is really exis, not only an ‘it ’.

For over 18 years, I w ant ed som et hing I knew I w ould never receive – M om ’s love. Wit hout a w ord, Alice opened her arm s. And as she held m e, I suddenly realized t hat m y lifelong search for love and accept ance had finally ended in the arm s of a fost er parent (TLB: 179).

David w as a bit surprised t o see his fost er parent Alice visit ing him in juvenil hall. He realized t hat he got his fost er parent s not from his ow n parent s. In addit ion, he got freedom.

“ You m ean I get t o go anyw here I w ant t o?” I asked, am azed that I suddenly had all of t his unexpect ed freedom. (TLB: 55)

David could go anyw here and do everyt hing w hen he w as child fost er. In cont rast , he w as st uck and prohibit ed w hen he st ayed at home. He should do w hat mot her ordered.

4) Fost er Kids

Being a fost er kid, David spent his t ime most w it h ot her fost er kids. They really influence David’s behavior. They liked t o play and somet imes t hey st ole and so did David.

Som et im es t hey st ole candy bars from t he local grocery st ores. Want ing t ot al accept ance and having already st olen food for years, I imm ediat ely follow ed t heir lead (TLB: 51).

Different from childhood t hat David liked school because t he school w as a place t o free from mot her, in t eenage David lost int erest in school because school kept him from playt ime w it h fost er kids. In t his t ime, his handw rit ing became w orse just like chicken scrat ch.

In m y new school I had com plet ely lost int erest . I no longer absorbed m y subject s as I had just a few w eeks ago. I sat behind t he gray st eel desk halfdazed, scribbling on m y papers, count ing down t he minut es unt il t he end of t he school day. What w as once my sanctuary soon becam e a prison t hat kept m e from my playtime at my fost er hom e. As m y at t ent ion span drifted, m y handw rit ing, once cursive and graceful, becam e chicken scrat ch (TLB: 51).

In short , David learned t o play and t o st eal from his fost er kids t o get t heir accept ance.

5) John

John is a classmat e of David. John st uck out like David. He had scraggly, long black hair and t hin. John had a very dist inct ive w alk. He also smoked.

Like me, John st uck out. He had scraggly, long black hair and t hin, w ornout clot hes. John had a very dist inct ive w alk, and I suddenly realized t hat no one seem ed t o pick on him . As I ran up t o John, I not iced a cigaret t e in his hand. (TLB: 104)

In opposit e, David w as alw ays be ceat hed by his friends. Therefore, David joined w it h John’s gang supposing no one insult ed him. Act ually, David realized t hat becom ing John’s gang means t rouble.

I accept ed John’s challenge, know ing I w as get ting int o trouble. (TLB: 105)

One day, John w as doing his plan burning school. David w as blamed t o t his act . He w as sent t o juvenile hall, t he place for fost er children w ho end up in t rouble. He learned t o be naught y and get t rouble from John.

6) M ichael A. M arsh

M ichael A. M arsh t augh David about polit e. One day, David ent ered M ichael’s house w it hout permission. Then M ichael asked him t o go out and t ry again t hen knock t he door. Aft er t hat , t he man bow ed at t he w aist as he w aved his arm, permit t ing David t o ent er. David w as w elcomed w armly.

Besides, David learned t o broader know ledge t hrough reading from M arsh. He read many books in M arsh’s library in his house especially about airplanes.

Dave, I spent hundreds of hours sit t ing in a corner of M ichael’s fam ed “ Hall of Knowledge, ” reading books about m ovies, race cars and airplanes (TLB: 168).

In addit ion, M arsh encouraged him t o be a pilot . He said t hat David w ould be t he next Chuck Yeager or Charles M anson. How ever, Charles M anson w as an Ace fight er pilot .

M ichael once w arned. “ I have plans for m y young w ard. I predict t hat M r Pelzer here will becom e t he next Chuck Yeager or Charles M anson. As you can see, I’m st ill w orking on t he det ails.” (TLB: 168-169).

b. Lesson Learned from 12 t o 18

In t his age, David became fost er child. His behavior changed because he w ant ed t o search love and accept ance. He also w ant ed t o express of freedom by being hyperact ive. Approaching eight een years old, he became w orkholic because a fost er child w ouldn’t be on w ard of t he court in t he age of eight een. Therefore, he t ried t o get money t o fulfill his needs in t he fut ure. Here are David’s behavior in t he age of 12 t o 18:

1) Freedom

While living at home, David felt as if he w as st aying in jail. On t he cont rary, he could do everyt hing as a fost er child. He got freedom aft er survived from mot her. Feeling freedom , David act ed w ild, uncont rolled and hyperact ive t o express his feeling for last years of silence. He also became t alkat ive and liked t o scream.

From t hat m oment on I becam e a wild child. I blitzed t hrough t he hom e as if m y pant s w ere on fire. I joked, laughed and scream ed w it h joy, releasing years of solit ude and silence (TLB: 30).

Because David alw ays kept silent at home, he began t o be w ild as he got freedom at fost er home. He screamed and laughed as t he expression of his feeling.

I w as uncont rollable. I ran from room t o room , jum ping on every m at t ress in t he home. I bounced so high m y head banged again and again against t he ceiling. I didn’t st op until I saw st ars. (TLB: 30)

David couldn’t cont rol t he happiness of freedom. He ran from door t o door and jumped. He also became hyperact ive.

For t hat evening m y hyperactivit y ended as quickly as air could escape a balloon. (TLB: 31)

2) Conform it y

The environment at fost er home w as different from his mot her’s home. David t ried t o adapt w it h his new environment . He did conformit y t o t he environment around him. How ever, he searched for love t hat he didn’t get at home. He did everyt hing t o get t heir accept ance.

I so badly w anted t o be liked, t o be accept ed by m y class, my school – by everyone (TLB: 26).

One day David saw one of his friend st ealing. Then he show ed his abilit y in st ealing t o his friends. They gave applause and show ed t heir accept ance. Different from previous w hen he st ayed at home, he did st ealing not because he w as hungry but because he w ant ed ot her children accept his exist ance. Therefore, somet imes he did st ealing alt hough he didn’t need t he t hings he st ole. He only beared t he goods in front of t he st ore or gave t hem t o children. He realized t hat w hat he did w as w rong but he st ill did t hat act t o get accept ance.

Want ing t ot al accept ance and having already st olen food for years, I imm ediat ely follow ed t heir lead If someone st ole t w o candy bars, I st ole four. It seemed so easy t o m e t hat aft er a few afternoon t rips, I became a legend wit hin t he group. I w as fully aw are t hat w hat I

w as doing w as w rong. I also knew that som e of t he bigger boys w ere using me, but I didn’t care. After years of isolation, I w as finally accept ed w ithin a group (TLB: 51).

3) Workaholic

At fift een years old, David w as fear at t he t hought of how he w as going t o buy food or w here he w ould live. He knew t hat in t he age of eight een, he w ouldn’t be on t he w ard of t he court anymore and should st and by his ow n foot t o make m oney. Therefore, he began t o make money and w ork hard in t he age of fift een because for him fift een means count dow n.

Whenever t hey bragged about t heir w eekend ski t rips, I’d t hink about how I could squeeze in an ext ra hour of w ork. (TLB: 159).

In addit ion, he also learns how t o cook from Alice t o ensure he can cook for himself. He is afraid t hat he cannot cook by himself w het her he should be independent at t he age of eight een.

I w as pushing 16 and did not know how t o cook for m yself. Alice assured m e t hat she w ould teach m e w hen t he t im e cam e. I persist ed. I w ant ed t o learn how t o cook now (TLB: 159-160).

3. Larger Society

In his new environment David learns a lot of t hings w hich are very influent ial in his behavior. The lesson t hat he learned come from different persons and t he lesson t hat he gets from t hem are different t oo. In his new environment he meet s w it h several people t hat have an import ant role in his

life. From t hem he learns and acquires many t hings t hat he never know s before as discussed below :

a. Significant Ot hers

1) St ephen Joseph (Fat her)

Whenever t here is a problem w it h t he mot her, fat her alw ays vent t o drink. His career and life is dest royed by alcohol. Drinking dest royed everyt hing including family. David said:

m y parent s’ drinking dest royed m y family (AM ND: 164)

David’s fat her also doesn’t have a house t o st ay. Aft er get t ing divorse from his w ife, he didn’t have home. He somet imes w ent t o his friends house but t hen he felt ashamed t o st ay at t heir homes.

Feeling asham ed, Fat her gave up on asking friends t o st ay at t heir hom e for a few night s at a t im e. Wit h no one t o t urn t o and no m oney, societ y’s old hero w as now alone wit h no place t o live.

Somet hing t hat David learned from fat her is not t o be like him. To be like him means sorrow during life span. Fat her gave David last advice t o get out from mot her and be a bet t er person. The st at ements said by David’s fat her are as follow s:

“ Get out of here, David. Get as far aw ay from here as you can. You’re alm ost at t hat age. Get out .” ... “ Do what you have to. Don’t end up … don’t end up like m e.” (AM ND: 35)

David’s decision not t o be like fat her w ho die in sorrow can be seen from t hese st at ement s:

As m uch as I felt sorry for him , t hough, I knew I did not w ant t o – I could not – end up like him. I felt selfish t hinking of m yself rat her t han m y st ricken fat her, but his advice, Don’t end up like m e, becam e m y personal com mandment . (AM ND: 35)

He also w ant s t o prove t hat he is not a loser and w ill be success. He w ant s his fat her and mot her proud of him.

I felt from t he bot t om of m y soul how desperat ely I craved t o som eday m ake both M ot her and Fat her proud. (AM ND: 52)

2) Cat herine Roerva (M ot her)

David is haunt ed by his abusive childhood. He doesn’t w ant t he same t hing w ill be repeat ed. Therefore, he t ries t o search t he source w hy t he mot her w as so abusive and w hy she hat ed David.

Why, w hy, w hy? What in t he hell did I ever do t o you t o make you hat e m e so m uch? (AM ND: 18)

David discovers a few t hings about his mot her. From t alking w it h his grandmot her, it becomes evident t o him t hat she abused his mot her, w ho t hen abused David.

How ever, David has one final encount er w it h his mot her a short t ime lat er. She is in poor healt h and w ant s David t o forgive her for t he years of abuse.

She did not display any rem orse, unless M ot her’s bringing it up w as her feeble w ay of seeking forgiveness. (AM ND: 188)

David can’t do t hat because t here’s just t oo much pain and hat red t o let go of at t his point .

To m y ow n dism ay, and aft er a lifet im e of const ant ly proving m y w ort hiness t o ot hers, I did not – I could not – forgive M ot her. (AM ND: 222)

Finally, he decides t o unload his feelings and he forgives her. David realizes t hat if he doesn’t let go of t hese negat ive feelings he w ill become t he same abusive person. He know s he has t o forgive, and he does. He learned from his mot her w hat should not t o do, becom ing abusive like her. Therefore he must forgive her mot her t o become a good fat her t hen t he abuse w ill not be repeat ed.

When I had sat in front of m ot her just a few w eeks before she died, I cam e wit hin a heartbeat of st at ing m y forgiveness. (AM ND: 223)

3) Pat sy

Pat sy w as t he first w oman in David’s life. David met her in t he pool. She w as t here w it h her w ild friends but she w as not like t hem w ho w ere aim less.

Even though she hung out w ith a w ild group of friends, she seem ed different. She w asn’t as row dy or aim less as t he ot hers (AM ND: 149).

Like David, Pat sy also got t rouble w it h her family. She w as being alienat ed and needed accept ance. Her mot her w as overbearing and Pat sy ran aw ay by hanging up w it h a w ild group of friends.

She w ent on t o explain t hat she w as picked on as a child, felt out of place am ong her siblings, had t rouble get ting along w it h her overbearing m ot her, and as a t eenager felt t he only w ay t o escape w as t o run aw ay AM ND: 153).

Pat sy and David came close in t he relat ion. When David w aas flying for a long t ime, Pat sy gave a favor t o keep David’s apart ment . Then David gave his ext ra key t o Pat sy. But w hen David came from flying, he found his apart ment w as full of Pat sy’s goods. Pat sy moved t o David’s apart ment asking t o st ay w it h him. David couldn’t reject her.

Pat sy had never been so em ot ional before. I w anted t o sit her dow n and calmly, logically explain t hat w e w ere now considering m oving in t ogether (AM ND: 155).

How ever, Pat sy is a girl w it h many problems. She is a heavy drinker, like t o go t o part y and she const ant ly spends David’s money. David began t o have problem living w it h Pat sy.

Whenever I came hom e from m y ext ended assignm ent s, t he first couple of days w ere great. We’d go out t o dinner, have a few beers at her favorit e bar, or see t he lat est m ovie. But w it hin a w eek the elation w ore off and frust rations grew (AM ND:162)

Some t roubles w it h Pat sy appear but David has t o marry Pat sy because she is approaching t o have his baby. W illing unw illing, David married t o Pat sy and lived t oget her w it h t heir son St ephen.

“ I’m going t o have your baby!” (AM ND:172)

Soon, t hings w it h Pat sy t urn sour and t hey decide t o get a divorce. The failure of his marriage is David’s inabilit y t o t rust anot her person. He can’t t rust Pat sy.

Part of me didn’t t rust her as m uch as I t hought I should (AM ND 162).

4) M arsha

M arsha is an assist ant edit or. She first met David because of David’s first book A Child Called it. She made a deal about schedule of publishing David’s first book. They oft en make a call and have a long conversat ion.

Wit hin a few w eeks I received a call from an assist ant edit or w ho int roduced herself as M arsha Donohoe. We spoke about t he changes she w ished t o m ake and t he schedule of publishing m y first book (AM ND: 252).

David’s relat ion w it h M arsha bet w een adit or and aut hor came closer. He began t o imagine about M arsha.

I closed m y eyes, and im agined M arsha’s sm ile and t he w ay she m ight t oss her hair w hen she laughed (AM ND: 254).

M arsha and David w ere inseparable. David w as fascinat ed t o M arsha but he felt t hat he w asn’t t he right person for M arsha. He didn’t w ant t o hurt M arsha. He felt M arsha w as t oo good for him and he t ought t hat he couldn’t be w it h her.

You’re just t oo perfect . I know w ho I am and where I belong. You’re w ay t oo good for m e. I’m sorry, but I don’t … I don’t deserve t o be w it h you.” (AM ND: 258)

M arsha encouraged David t hat he w as precious. She ment ioned all t he st rengt hness of David. David w as not a useless man but he w as perfect for M arsha. M arsha w ant ed t o be w it h David. M arsha w as t he only one w ho David t rust ed.

“ I’ll never deserve you. You’re m y best friend. I love you. You’re t he one, M arsha. The only one … t he only one I t rust .” (AM ND: 264)

David decided t o marry M arsha. He proposed M arsha at t he Russian River. M arsha w as so glad. She screamed, jum ped, and huged David as t he sign of accept ing David’s proposal. This is w hat David said t o propose M arsha:

What do you t hink of … spending t he rest of your life w it h m e?” (AM ND: 268)

From M arsha, David learned t o t rust someone and t o differenciat e bet w een helping ot hers and being t aken advant age by ot hers. He also learned t o solve some problems.

She t aught me t he fine line bet w een helping ot hers and being t aken advant age of (AM ND: 266).

5) St ephen Joseph Pelzer

St ephen Joseph Pelzer is David’s son w it h Pat sy. As born, St ephen w aas t iny t hat David w as afraid t o break his bone.

St ephen w as so t iny and delicate I t hought for sure he’d break if I m oved t he wrong w ay (AM ND: 181)

David w ant ed t o alw ays save St ephen. David became paranoid since St ephen w as born. He is afraid if somet hing bad happens t o St ephen.

Since St ephen w as born, I had becom e paranoid, not only as a parent sust aining him , but ot her fears like illnesses, lat enight fevers, and get t ing him all t he appropriat e shot s at t he right tim e. (AM ND:182)

David learned a lesson from St ephen. The first lesson is t o do everyt hing he can do t o solve problem.

It w as at t he river w hen St ephen unknow ingly taught me m y first lesson: Do everyt hing I possibly could as sit uat ions arose, but ease up a lit t le and let go. (AM ND: 182)

As a fat her, David realized t hat he got harder responsibilit y t o his son. He w ant s t o be a good fat her t o St ephen. The lesson learned from his son is love. He loves his son m uch.

Wit hout a shred of hesit at ion, m y son, St ephen, w as t he first and only person I adored – t hat I absolut ely loved wit h all of m y heart and soul (AM ND: 183).

b. Lesson Learned over 18

The experiences of David childhood and yout h influence his life as an adult . Here are his behavior in adult hood:

1) Independence

Being fost er child and approaching eight een, David realized t hat he should st and by his ow n feet and t ried t o search for living. He became an independent person.

...display m yself as t he fair minded, independent , responsible person t hat I st rive t o be, t hen by t he t im e I left , I’d know in m y heart I w as no longer looked upon as a child called “ It ” . (AM ND: 185)

In t he age of eight een, David enlist ed in t he U.S. Air Force aft er doing some st ruggle. He became a pilot and could make a living. He should leave his fost er parent s because of t hat .

Because of t he excit em ent of finally enlist ing in t he U.S. Air Force, saying goodbye t o m y fost er parent s, and st ruggling wit h m y past , I had not slept in days (AM ND: 31).

David declared his independence t o his mot her by t hese w ords:

“ All t hose years you tried your best t o break m e, and I’m st ill here. Fat her’s finally free, Ron’s in t he service, and soon the boys w ill m ove out on t heir ow n. I’m a good person. I t ry m y best in everyt hing I set out t o do. I m ake mist akes, I screw up, but I learn. I don’t blame ot hers for m y problem s. I st and on m y ow n. And one day you’ll see, I’m going t o m ake som ething out of myself” . (AM ND: 105)

2) Open

In adult hood, David becomes open. He first ly met Pat sy w ho w as t he first girl in his life. They got married and had a son but t hey got divorse at last . Then he opened his heart for t he second t o M arsha w ho w ould become his next w ife. David t ried t o open his heart and t rust ed someone. M arsha w as t he only one w ho David t rust .

“ I’ll never deserve you. You’re my best friend. I love you. You’re t he one, M arsha. The only one … t he only one I t rust .” (AM ND: 264)

He also t old his bad experience about being abused t o M s Gold and w rot e his ow n book about his life. The books open his secret of being abused.

Thinking of m y social w orker M s Gold and w hat she had said t o me w hen I had opened up t o her about m y secret (AM ND:231)

3) Forgiveness

David has forgiven his mot her for having abused him. He didn't w ant t o be like her.

If I don’t deal w it h t his, all I’m doing is hiding ‘t he secret ’ like everyone else, and if I do t hat , t hen w hat ’s t o say I don’t becom e like her or like m y dad (AM ND: 42)

David could have easily hat ed mot her, and t reat ed her bad. But he chose t o forgive. He w on't put his son t hrough w hat he w ent t hrough. Hat red makes you int o a hat eful, bit t er and t w ist ed person. He didn't w ant t o be like t hat . He didn't w ant t o be like his mum. So he forgave. It w as t he only w ay t o break t he chain.

Wit h t he fram e shaking in m y hand, I em pt ied m y chest . I forgave her. I forgave “ The M ot her” . (AM ND: 223)

4) Care

Seeing t he abuse in front of his eyes, David involved t o some programs about yout h at risk. He w orked in juvenile hall. He also became speaker dealing w it h kids and t he yout h t o give t hem mot ivat ion t o survive.

“ It ’s t he best of bot h w orlds. If I do t his, I’ll never be laid off. I can help kids, t he people w ho w ork wit h kids, corporat ions, t he w orks. I know I’ll never be one of t hose m ot ivat ional speakers you see on TV, and I don’t w ant t o be. I can’t explain it , but I believe w it h all my heart I have a message t hat could really help a lot of people.” (AM ND: 228)

In addit ion, t he books David w rot e namely A Child Called It , The Lost Boy and A M an Named Dave encourage t he readers t o survive. These t hree books influence American societ y at t hat t ime t o ban t he hardness t o children.

B. Discussion

David’s experience as abused child and people around him in t he environment s have cont ribut ed t o David’s personalit y development . He challenges in t hree different environment s involving home, fost er care, and larger societ y. The personil in each environment gives different influence bot h posit ive and negat ive effect .

At t he age of four t o t w elve, as a child called it , David w as t reat ed as prisoneer of w ar. He w as forced t o do chores and w as limit ed in doing anyt hing. What mot her said not , David might not do t hat . He w as obedient t o mot her.

He also became responsive for w hat w ould happen t o him. He knew t he mot her’s mood from t he voice and t he w ay she dresses. Responsively he could t hink w hat he w ould do t o accept mot her’s t reat . Being responsive, he w as t rained t o act quickly.

David did everyt hing t o survive. He believed t hat he could survive from mot her’s abuse. He w as opt im ist t o st ay alive. Get t ing food and keep w arm means he st ill alife. He doesn’t w ant m ot her w ins.

How ever, David is int rovert . It is because he used t o st ay at home and he didn’t have friends at school. His mot her made him t o alw ays st ay at home. Because David st ole at school, he w as out cast . The int rovert leads him t o be difficult t o t rust someone.

As t eenager, in t he age of t w elve t o eight een, David t ries t o search his ident it y. He st ayed in five different homes as foster child. He searched for family love and accept ance. From t his environment , he got freedom t hat he didn’t get at home. Feeling freedom, David became w ild, hyperact ive and uncont rolled. It w as t he expression of t he years of solit ut e.

St aying in new environment , David t ried t o conform w it h his new environment . He oft en spent his t ime t o play w it h ot her fost er children. One day he saw t he children st ealing t hen he st ole more t han w hat t hey st ole t o get accept ance from t hem.

Approaching eight een, David realized t hat he should st and by his ow n feet . Therefore, he t ried t o find job t o get money and became w orkaholic. He didn’t care w it h his friends w ho spend t heir t ime w it h joy. The more he sees his friends playing, t he more he w orks hard.

In adult hood, David st ayed w it h larger societ y. He got a job as pilot at U.S. Air Force and also got married. He w as independent . He could earn his w on money, could cook himself, and had apart ment t o st ay.

David also becam e more open. Pat sy w as t he first w oman in his life w ho t aught him t o be more open t o w oman. He w as forced t o marry Pat sy because she w as approaching t o have his baby. In his marriage, he couldn’t t rust Pat sy. Therefore t hey got divorse. For t he second t ime, he opened his heart t o ot her

w oman. She w as M arsha. She w as book edit or. M arsha w as t he only one w ho David t rust ed.

How ever, David searched for t he reason w hy his m ot her w as so abusive. He couldn’t forgive m ot her. But he realized t hat he w ould be like mot her if he didn’t forgive her. The circle of abuse can be broken by forgiving. In addit ion, he also join in t he program w hich saves t eenageer and encourage t hem t o survive. He w as care w it h t hem w ho got bad t reat ment in childhood.

From t hose t hree environment s, t he biggest influence David got t o shape his behavior is t he larger societ y. In t his age, David w as adult . He could t ake lesson from his past life t o be a good man. Previously, he hat ed mot her very much and w ant ed t o t ake revenge for w hat she did t o him. But finally he w as aw are t hat t he circle of abuse should be broken by forgiving.

He doesn’t w ant t o be like his mot her, t hen he must forgive her t o case aw ay t he hat red. In addit ion, he is care w it h t he children w ho experience in hardness and he w ant s t o encourage t hem t o be st rong and keep surviving.

The t rilogy A Child called it , The Lost Boy, and A M an Nam ed Dave have relat ionship w it h psychology. Perpet rat ors of abuse are usually t he vict ims of abuse. The vict ims of abuse w ill get psychological disorders if during t he t ime t hey just harbored a feeling. One day t hey w ill apply t he abuse t o t he w eaker.

In t his t rilogy, David’s mot her w as t he vict im of abuse from David’s grand mot her w ho lived in hard t ime and bear children alone w it hout husband’s help. She previously w as a good mot her but event ually changed t o be abusive as she got problem. M ot her rised children alone w hile fat her w ent for w ork. This reason made mot her t o be st ressfull t hen she applied her emot ion t o t he w eaker, t hat w as David.

David, t he main charact er, w as a vict im of abuse from his mot her w ho had been ever been abused. In t his case, David was persuaded t o t ell about his abuse so his feeling about abuse w ould be eased. Therefore, David could handle his emot ion t o m ot her and he w ouldn’t do t he abuse t o his children. He t ried t o forgive mot her t o break t o circle of abuse.

How ever, David has developed from home environment t o fost er care and event ually t o t he larger societ y. In t he end, he could break t he circle of abuse. By forgiving his mot her he w ill not be like mot her w ho w as abusive.

The aut hor expresses his psychology t hrough his t rilogy. In A Child Called it he t ells about t he abused child t o t ries t o survive. In The Lost Boy, he expresses his feeling in searching love of family. In A M an Nam ed Dave, he opens his heart t o forgive his mot her.

In addit ion, by w rit ing t he t rilogy, he has tw o purposes. The first , he encourages t he parent s t o st ay being nice in t eaching children and he

encourages people w ho st ay near abused child t o be aw are and keep t hem . The second, he also w ant s t o encourage t he children w ho w ere experienced in abuse t o survive. The last hope from t he aut hor is t here no m ore child abuse.

In conclusion, t he w rit er here can st at e t hat t here is a close relat ionship bet w een psychology and t rilogy A Child Called it , The Lost Boy, and A M an Nam ed Dave. Psychology is a science t hat st udies human and animal behavior. It also st udies response of human being t ow ards t he environment . In t his case, t he aut hor expressed his psychology w ho had ever became abused child t hrough t he t rilogy. He also expressed his crit ique for societ y unaw areness t ow ard child abuse. He encourages t he people to be aw are of child abuse and t he parent s t o t each t heir children w ise w it hout violence.

If I don’t deal w it h t his, all I’m doing is hiding ‘t he secret ’ like everyone else, and if I do t hat , t hen w hat ’s t o say I don’t becom e like her or like m y dad (AM ND: 42)

David could have easily hat ed mot her, and t reat ed her bad. But he chose t o forgive. He w on't put his son t hrough w hat he w ent t hrough. Hat red makes you int o a hat eful, bit t er and t w ist ed person. He didn't w ant t o be like t hat . He didn't w ant t o be like his mum. So he forgave. It w as t he only w ay t o break t he chain.

Wit h t he fram e shaking in m y hand, I em pt ied m y chest . I forgave her. I forgave “ The M ot her” . (AM ND: 223)

4) Care

Seeing t he abuse in front of his eyes, David involved t o some programs about yout h at risk. He w orked in juvenile hall. He also became speaker dealing w it h kids and t he yout h t o give t hem mot ivat ion t o survive.

“ It ’s t he best of bot h w orlds. If I do t his, I’ll never be laid off. I can help kids, t he people w ho w ork wit h kids, corporat ions, t he w orks. I know I’ll never be one of t hose m ot ivat ional speakers you see on TV, and I don’t w ant t o be. I can’t explain it , but I believe w it h all my heart I have a message t hat could really help a lot of people.” (AM ND: 228)

In addit ion, t he books David w rot e namely A Child Called It , The Lost Boy and A M an Named Dave encourage t he readers t o survive. These t hree books influence American societ y at t hat t ime t o ban t he hardness t o children.

B. Discussion

David’s experience as abused child and people around him in t he environment s have cont ribut ed t o David’s personalit y development . He challenges in t hree different environment s involving home, fost er care, and larger societ y. The personil in each environment gives different influence bot h posit ive and negat ive effect .

At t he age of four t o t w elve, as a child called it , David w as t reat ed as prisoneer of w ar. He w as forced t o do chores and w as limit ed in doing anyt hing. What mot her said not , David might not do t hat . He w as obedient t o mot her.

He also became responsive for w hat w ould happen t o him. He knew t he mot her’s mood from t he voice and t he w ay she dresses. Responsively he could t hink w hat he w ould do t o accept mot her’s t reat . Being responsive, he w as t rained t o act quickly.

David did everyt hing t o survive. He believed t hat he could survive from mot her’s abuse. He w as opt im ist t o st ay alive. Get t ing food and keep w arm means he st ill alife. He doesn’t w ant m ot her w ins.

How ever, David is int rovert . It is because he used t o st ay at home and he didn’t have friends at school. His mot her made him t o alw ays st ay at home. Because David st ole at school, he w as out cast . The int rovert leads him t o be difficult t o t rust someone.

As t eenager, in t he age of t w elve t o eight een, David t ries t o search his ident it y. He st ayed in five different homes as foster child. He searched for family love and accept ance. From t his environment , he got freedom t hat he didn’t get at home. Feeling freedom, David became w ild, hyperact ive and uncont rolled. It w as t he expression of t he years of solit ut e.

St aying in new environment , David t ried t o conform w it h his new environment . He oft en spent his t ime t o play w it h ot her fost er children. One day he saw t he children st ealing t hen he st ole more t han w hat t hey st ole t o get accept ance from t hem.

Approaching eight een, David realized t hat he should st and by his ow n feet . Therefore, he t ried t o find job t o get money and became w orkaholic. He didn’t care w it h his friends w ho spend t heir t ime w it h joy. The more he sees his friends playing, t he more he w orks hard.

In adult hood, David st ayed w it h larger societ y. He got a job as pilot at U.S. Air Force and also got married. He w as independent . He could earn his w on money, could cook himself, and had apart ment t o st ay.

David also becam e more open. Pat sy w as t he first w oman in his life w ho t aught him t o be more open t o w oman. He w as forced t o marry Pat sy because she w as approaching t o have his baby. In his marriage, he couldn’t t rust Pat sy. Therefore t hey got divorse. For t he second t ime, he opened his heart t o ot her

w oman. She w as M arsha. She w as book edit or. M arsha w as t he only one w ho David t rust ed.

How ever, David searched for t he reason w hy his m ot her w as so abusive. He couldn’t forgive m ot her. But he realized t hat he w ould be like mot her if he didn’t forgive her. The circle of abuse can be broken by forgiving. In addit ion, he also join in t he program w hich saves t eenageer and encourage t hem t o survive. He w as care w it h t hem w ho got bad t reat ment in childhood.

From t hose t hree environment s, t he biggest influence David got t o shape his behavior is t he larger societ y. In t his age, David w as adult . He could t ake lesson from his past life t o be a good man. Previously, he hat ed mot her very much and w ant ed t o t ake revenge for w hat she did t o him. But finally he w as aw are t hat t he circle of abuse should be broken by forgiving.

He doesn’t w ant t o be like his mot her, t hen he must forgive her t o case aw ay t he hat red. In addit ion, he is care w it h t he children w ho experience in hardness and he w ant s t o encourage t hem t o be st rong and keep surviving.

The t rilogy A Child called it , The Lost Boy, and A M an Nam ed Dave have relat ionship w it h psychology. Perpet rat ors of abuse are usually t he vict ims of abuse. The vict ims of abuse w ill get psychological disorders if during t he t ime t hey just harbored a feeling. One day t hey w ill apply t he abuse t o t he w eaker.

In t his t rilogy, David’s mot her w as t he vict im of abuse from David’s grand mot her w ho lived in hard t ime and bear children alone w it hout husband’s help. She previously w as a good mot her but event ually changed t o be abusive as she got problem. M ot her rised children alone w hile fat her w ent for w ork. This reason made mot her t o be st ressfull t hen she applied her emot ion t o t he w eaker, t hat w as David.

David, t he main charact er, w as a vict im of abuse from his mot her w ho had been ever been abused. In t his case, David was persuaded t o t ell about his abuse so his feeling about abuse w ould be eased. Therefore, David could handle his emot ion t o m ot her and he w ouldn’t do t he abuse t o his children. He t ried t o forgive mot her t o break t o circle of abuse.

How ever, David has developed from home environment t o fost er care and event ually t o t he larger societ y. In t he end, he could break t he circle of abuse. By forgiving his mot her he w ill not be like mot her w ho w as abusive.

The aut hor expresses his psychology t hrough his t rilogy. In A Child Called it he t ells about t he abused child t o t ries t o survive. In The Lost Boy, he expresses his feeling in searching love of family. In A M an Nam ed Dave, he opens his heart t o forgive his mot her.

In addit ion, by w rit ing t he t rilogy, he has tw o purposes. The first , he encourages t he parent s t o st ay being nice in t eaching children and he

encourages people w ho st ay near abused child t o be aw are and keep t hem . The second, he also w ant s t o encourage t he children w ho w ere experienced in abuse t o survive. The last hope from t he aut hor is t here no m ore child abuse.

In conclusion, t he w rit er here can st at e t hat t here is a close relat ionship bet w een psychology and t rilogy A Child Called it , The Lost Boy, and A M an Nam ed Dave. Psychology is a science t hat st udies human and animal behavior. It also st udies response of human being t ow ards t he environment . In t his case, t he aut hor expressed his psychology w ho had ever became abused child t hrough t he t rilogy. He also expressed his crit ique for societ y unaw areness t ow ard child abuse. He encourages t he people to be aw are of child abuse and t he parent s t o t each t heir children w ise w it hout violence.