March 15, 2001 

Peter Fonagy, Ph.D. and Stuart Twemlow, M.D.

Free Admission
Open to the Public

The National Campaign Against Youth Violence suggests the best time to stop youth violence is before it starts. The Dallas Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology has invited Dr. Stuart Twemlow and Dr. Peter Fonagy to share their expertise regarding this critical issue confronting our communities. They will present a coordinated look at violence in schools, integrating work on the significance of early social relationships (attachment) with that of power dynamics, and suggest interventions to reduce violence in schools.

Dr. Fonagy will discuss the roots of violence in our families and culture by introducing the concept of disorganized attachment. The genesis of violent acts may be subtler than previously thought. While we are generally able to identify populations at high risk of violence, often the most severe acts of violence erupt in places and people where one would least expect it.

Dr. Twemlow will report on a successful elementary school program that addressed issues to improve self-reflection in children and create a peaceful, collaborative, and friendly learning environment. The philosophy of this program focuses on power struggles between staff, students, parents, and support personnel in the school, with an emphasis on self-understanding and reduction in conscious and unconscious power dynamics in the school climate.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Parents, teachers, school administrators, clergy, law enforcement personnel, mental health professionals and others interested in understanding and preventing youth violence.

Schedule and Agenda

Peter Fonagy, Ph.D. and Stuart Twemlow M.D. will present case material that parallels the evening public program focused on youth violence. Dr. Fonagy will offer a case presentation that illustrates his theory of violence in a psychoanalytic treatment of a murderer. Dr. Twemlow will present his paper, “A Crucible for Murder: The Social Context of Violent children,” in which he presents material on the pernicious social influence on children. He will illustrate the theory with vignettes from the evaluation of two children who committed murder. Drs. Fonagy and Twemlow will also entertain audience discussion and comments

Counselors, Family Therapists, Lawyers, Play Therapists, Psychiatrists, 
Psychologists, Social Workers, Teachers, University Students, & interested others.

Schedule and Agenda

The afternoon professional seminar offers 2.5 CEU credits for Licensed Professional Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers. CEU credits require a $20 fee to cover administrative costs. Make checks payable to: DSPP Community Relations Committee

• Familiarize those attending with the concept of disorganized attachment.

• Review cultural changes that may be considered risk factors both for attachment disorganization and violent behavior .

• Review some of the recent extreme cases of school violence in the context of this theory.

• Familiarize attendees with the theory of power dynamics, thought to underpin violent school environments.

• Discuss the necessary social conditions and requirements for successful school anti-violence programs.

• Describe the basic components of a peaceful schools philosophy that can be adapted to unique conditions in a school.

Thursday
MARCH 15, 2001

Afternoon Professional Seminar
1:00-4:00 PM

Evening Public Program
7:30-9:00 PM

Unity Church of Dallas
6535 Forest Lane
Dallas, TX 75230

South of I-635, Between Preston and Hillcrest
( Mapsco 15Y)