Dibs in Search of Self
Encyclopedia
Dibs in Search of Self is a true story by psychologist
and author Virginia Axline
. It chronicles a series of play therapy
sessions over a period of one year with an emotionally crippled boy who comes from wealthy and highly educated family who, in spite of obvious signs that he is gifted, his mother and father perceive him as a "mental defective", because he presents abnormal social behavior: "Dibs" continuously isolates himself (shuns social contact), rarely speaks, physically lashes out at his sister and classmates at school (hitting, kicking etc), has homicidal ideation, displays severe anti-social behavior; he is misdiagnosed as an autistic.
To protect his anonymity, Axline gave him the pseudonym
"Dibs". Virginia Axline uses the Play Therapy
, in order to communicate with "Dibs". Gradually, 'Dibs' is rehabilitated, and brought back to close to normal social behaviors. Dibs was a gifted child with an IQ of 168.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and author Virginia Axline
Virginia Axline
Virginia M. Axline was a psychologist and one of the pioneers in the use of Play Therapy. She wrote the book Dibs In Search Of Self. She was also the author of Play Therapy....
. It chronicles a series of play therapy
Play therapy
Play therapy is generally employed with children aged 3 through 11 and provides a way for them to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-healing process...
sessions over a period of one year with an emotionally crippled boy who comes from wealthy and highly educated family who, in spite of obvious signs that he is gifted, his mother and father perceive him as a "mental defective", because he presents abnormal social behavior: "Dibs" continuously isolates himself (shuns social contact), rarely speaks, physically lashes out at his sister and classmates at school (hitting, kicking etc), has homicidal ideation, displays severe anti-social behavior; he is misdiagnosed as an autistic.
To protect his anonymity, Axline gave him the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Dibs". Virginia Axline uses the Play Therapy
Play therapy
Play therapy is generally employed with children aged 3 through 11 and provides a way for them to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-healing process...
, in order to communicate with "Dibs". Gradually, 'Dibs' is rehabilitated, and brought back to close to normal social behaviors. Dibs was a gifted child with an IQ of 168.