AP Psychology
Ms. Dritz
A Child Called “It” Assignment
In your lifetime you will have personal experiences that will have such a dramatic effect on you that it
will change your life entirely. As you read A Child Called “It”, you will agree that this was the case for
David Pelzer. You will read the real life account of one of the most horrific cases of child abuse ever
recorded in California. Unfortunately, David is not alone. Everyday children are abused, some cases are
reported and some children are saved, but many are not.
While reading, answer all questions below. Please type your answers in COMPLETE SENTENCES with
EXAMPLES from the text and support from your notes from class using the following format:
• Times New Roman 12 pt Font
• Number each answer
• Use citations when necessary
• Turn in at beginning of your class period on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17
TOTAL POINTS: 40 POINTS
1. How old was David when the abuse began?
2. How did Catherine, David’s mother, and her actions/behaviors towards David and the family change
from the beginning of the book?
3. Why do you think that Catherine only went after and abused David? Think about Targeted Child
Syndrome. (May have to look this term up)
4. Give examples from the story of the abuses David suffered at the hands of his mother.
5. What were some of the “chores” that David must complete for his mother?
6. What tricks or survival mechanisms does David adopt to “beat” his mother at her own game?
7. What role does denial play for David’s father?
8. Why do you think that many abused children like David lie to cover for their parents or in many cases
still love and seek the approval of their parents? Explain.
9. How old was David when he finally escapes the abuse?
10. According to your knowledge of Nature vs. Nurture, how do you believe the abuse will effect David’s
development?
11. Who was worse, the mom or the dad?
12. What SHOULD David be like as an adult? Can he overcome the abuse to be “normal”? Explain why
you think what you do.
13. Write a minimum ½ page reflection on how this book affected you. Please DO NOT summarize the
book, but tell me how it changed you or did not change you. Did this book affect you emotionally and
why? What shocked you or truly bothered you the most, and why? Which was worse in your opinion,
the physical or emotional abuse? Did it change your belief system---think about discipline, spanking,
etc. Are you more of a child advocate now? Basically explain your overall thoughts of this book.
