Page 40 - NAMAH-Apr-2019

Notes on counselling

Dealing with childhood libido — a consciousness perspective

Dr. Soumitra Basu

Abstract
Childhood libidinal behaviour is complex and may be associated with other behavioural problems. In the
absence of a mental ego, the pre-school child at the physical-vital level of consciousness is susceptible to
negative vibrations. At the vital-physical level that characterises adolescence, exploratory behaviour is
invested with emotions needing sublimation and refinement. A true solution to this problem includes
the aspiration for a noble soul by would-be parents.

One of the most agonising experiences I have It is difficult to understand a child’s psyche.
as a counsellor occurs when I am confronted While Freud’s contentions about childhood
with mothers complaining about their otherwise libidinal behaviour no longer hold the fort,
intelligent children making libidinal advances it is also difficult and complex to unearth
to them. Typically the child is at pre-school negative childhood experiences and memories
stage, mostly a male and may be as young as 3 of being victimised. Exposure to profanity
years. It is not necessary that such a child has through audio-visual media or titillation
a history of being sexually victimised. When through the culture of consumerism may be
mothers take a decision to consult a counsellor, precipitating factors but do not explain the
they no longer think that the behaviour is vulnerability of affected children to act on
merely exploratory but something more that such cues.
would sooner or later be characterised as
offending in nature. However this kind of The Consciousness perspective
behaviour is not usually isolated but exists in
conjunction with other behaviour problems. Freud dealt with libido as a sex-drive. Carl
It may be a part of obsessive-compulsive Jung considered libido in a wider framework
spectrum disorder. It may be associated with as a totality of psychic energy, perceived
ADHD. At times, the child may exhibit other subjectively as striving and desire. The
conduct problems, especially aggression. In consciousness perspective that emerges in
rare cases, the child may be showing early the Aurobindonian context would perceive it
indications of developing psychopathic traits. as one of the many aspects of the vital plane

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