Leonard Shengold

Since the publication of Dr. Leonard Shengold's highly acclaimed book Soul Murder in 1989, issues of child abuse have become the subject of much public debate. Now Dr. Shengold offers his latest reflections on the circumstances in which the wilful abuse and neglect of children arises and on the consequences of this abuse, providing compelling examples from literature and from...

Our sense of identity begins (our psychological birth sometime in the first year of life) with the feeling that we are the centre of the universe, protected by godlike benevolent parents who will enable us to live happily ever after. This is the Promise that is never given up, lurking in the unconscious part of our minds. We must learn,...