The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook

Analyze how the timing of traumatic experiences affects their impact on child development. Use specific examples from the book to support your argument about why age matters in trauma recovery.

Evaluate the role of human connection and relationships in trauma recovery based on the cases presented. How do Perry’s findings support or challenge the idea that “People, not programs, change people” (86)?

Analyze Perry’s criticism of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). What are the strengths and weaknesses of diagnostic labeling versus his “picture, not a label” approach (292)?

Select two different cases from the book and compare their treatment approaches and outcomes. What factors contributed to the success or challenges in each case?

Using examples from the book, analyze how early neglect and deprivation affect brain development and behavior. How do these effects differ from those caused by active abuse?

Analyze how family dynamics contributed to the children’s trauma and recovery processes in the cases presented.

Examine Perry and Szalavitz’s critique of child welfare and mental health systems. What systemic changes does his work suggest are necessary to better serve traumatized children?

Evaluate how Perry balances clinical intuition with scientific rigor in his approach to treating traumatized children. What are the benefits and risks of this approach?