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Special Section: ‘Forty Seven, Today You are Nine’: Systematic Abuse in Irish Childcare Institutions

Laragh Counselling, Ireland. paul.shield{at}mailc.hse.ie

This paper discusses Bion's Affect Theory, in relation to the recent disclosure of systematic abuse in State-funded childcare institutions in Ireland. Exploring Meltzer's development of Bion's early work the paper describes the wider cultural and historical circumstances in which children and carers came to enter the physically and emotionally claustrophobic environment of the claustrum, in which a lack of knowledge could lead to hurting. The aim is to increase our understanding of how individual and group dynamics can lead to people becoming dehumanized under certain forms of state organization; and the importance of developing and maintaining knowledgeable, reflective and accountable systems of care and management, aware of the ever present risk of boundary violation.

Key Words: institutional childcare • child abuse • claustrum • statutory inquiry • Bion's Affect Theory

Group Analysis, Vol. 39, No. 1, 25-35 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0533316406055389


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