Taylor Stevens Logan Bearden ENC1145-07 24 March 2014 We as humans are built off past experiences in our lives,

which can be either negative or positive. These events occur in our lives and shape us into who we were, who we are, and who we will become. Over the course of our lifetime we experience things such as heartbreak, abuse, neglect and sometimes loss. Each of these events can lead to bigger issues further down the line, also affecting those around us. If our past experiences affect only those experiencing it, that is one thing; but in many cases past experiences can leave long term affects on, also impacting those around them. Through my research, I will discuss why and how negative past events affect people in their current life and how it could negatively affect them in their future life. Throughout the Harry Potter series we learn that characters such as Ron Wesley, Harry Potter and Severus Snape all have experienced traumatic events in their past, which still affect them to this day. I will specifically focus on a few key events that occur in these characters lives such as phobias, child neglect and bullying. But the broader picture here is that these problems occur throughout the daily lives of thousands of people, not just Harry Potter characters. If traumatizing past events such as phobias, child neglect and bullying are prevented, society overall would be in a better place and so would its future generations. We can help fix this problem by doing things such as stopping bullying when we see it or providing our children with the proper love and nourishment they need to succeed. Phobias can have complete control over how a person choses to live their life. Allow me to first explain the difference between a fear, and a phobia. A fear is something everyone

Stevens 2 experiences, but can easily overcome with a little work. Phobias on the other hand relate to anxiety, and can prevent the person from going certain places, or experiencing things because the fear is uncontrollable making it a phobia. In The Embodiment of Disgust in Phobias of Nature by Mick Smith and Joyce Davidson, both discuss not only how common it is to have a fear of spiders, but also why some may suffer from these phobias. The article tells us that the life events we as people encounter with living species (specifically snakes and spiders) Commonly shape our long-term perception of them (Davidson & Smith 3). If these encounters are remembered as a negative memory, it could create a phobia or fear. Sometimes phobias are mild, but other times they can be as extreme as preventing the victim from leaving the comfort of their home. Now there is no way to prevent natural occurrences from traumatizing people, but anxiety medications and therapists are often helpful methods to control the phobias of those who suffer from them. The longer the phobia goes undiagnosed, the worse it could get. Child neglect has been a wide issue effecting millions of kids across the world every year. Not only does it impact children during their childhood, but also has a powerful impact on their future life. Neglectful parents commonly dont realize the damage they are actually causing to the child. As a matter of fact, child neglect is commonly unintentional and goes unnoticed, but it still strongly impacts the child. Many have the idea in their head that child neglect is simply ignoring a child while in the developing stages of their life. Psychologist Marije Stoltenborgh defines child neglect as, The failure to provide for the development of the child in all spheres (Stoltenborgh 1). The term in all spheres refers to everything from mental and physical health, to education, or even shelter and nutrition. By not providing a child with these necessities for successful development, their current life and future life are strongly at risk. As I mentioned earlier, many dont realize they are neglecting their child. Sometimes work, paying the bills or

Stevens 3 cleaning the house may seem more of a priority at the time. But if more parents came to the realization of when they are neglecting their child and the long-term affects it could have on them, we could save future generations from an endless amount of mental problems. One major health issue discussed in The Invisible Power of Childhood Neglect by Psychology Today is lack of self-care (Babel 1); Children who dont receive genuine care from their guardian sometimes have trouble providing for themselves as they mature and grow older. Not only are these neglect victims not provided with a solid example of how to provide for themselves, but towards others as well. This can cause issues down the road when trying to provide for their significant other, child or pet. In-turn leading to an ongoing cycle of poor examples toward future generations. The second key issue neglect victims may develop in their future is emotional awareness (Babel 1). Children who experience neglect tend to have their emotions pushed aside by their guardian, making them feel less important as a person. This commonly leads to mental disorders such as depression, and sometimes anger because the child isnt properly taught how to deal with those emotions. Much like child neglect, bullying has been a very large issue affecting countless amounts of children and teens across the globe every year. According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, about one in every six students is continuously bullied at some point throughout their life (Carroll 1). Bullying is known to have the largest impact on both high school and elementary school students and their choice to attend school. Living circumstances such as child neglect, is the second most common. The same cooperation states that, The dropout problem affects approximately 1.3 million U.S. high school students every year (AEE 139). In the same article, Perceived Prevalence of Teasing & Bullying states that factors such as bullying can lead to, school avoidance, disengagement and eventually the choice to leave school prior to

Stevens 4 graduation (AEE 139). What most people dont realize is that bullying can affect the victim both mentally and physically. Boys tend to be teased and physically bullied; While girls typically are not physically aggressive, but bully through teasing or harassing. Physical and mental bullying both is equally as unhealthy because both can cause life long damage. Physical bullying can cause temporary scrapes and bruises, but in many cases can cause life long injuries affecting the victim for the remainder of their life. In 2011, U.S. News reported a student at the age of 12 being physically bullied, resulting in a blood clot which eventually progressed to his spine (Leitsinger 1). The injury resulted in the 12 year old becoming paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. The victim will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, limiting his physical activity/mobility, job opportunities, and many other experiences he couldve had. The sad thing is countless injuries like this happen around the world every year, and could be prevented. Along with physical bullying, teasing and harassing can mentally damage the victim for an extensive amount of time and sometimes the remainder of their life. This could lead to depression, low-self esteem and anger, along with many other issues. In some extreme cases, the depression and low-self esteem could cause the victim to take their life. Throughout the Harry Potter series, we learn Ron Weasley is deathly afraid of spiders. One of Rons famous lines is, You can figure it out, Harry, I say. I cant go in there, I have a serious fear of spiders you know that! Arachnophobia or whatever! (Chamber of Secrets) As stated in my research, Mick Smith and Joyce Davidson discuss that the life events we encounter with living species commonly shape our long-term perception of them and the negative encounters are what cause a phobia. When Ron was three years old, his brothers Fred and George turned his teddy bear into a giant spider. Ever since then, Ron has been emotionally

Stevens 5 traumatized by anything related to spiders. His phobia of spiders gives him anxiety and prevents him from going in an area in which spiders inhabit. Bullying commonly goes unnoticed or just isnt stopped, leading to a continuous cycle because the bully feels a sense of power over the victim. Psychology Today states that, Bullying is related to lower academic achievement, low self-esteem, self-destructive behaviors and violent behaviors (Schlitz 146). In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ron Weasleys sister is introducing Neville to her friend Luna. Luna tells Neville she had never seen him, and doesnt know who he is. Neville replies by saying, Im a nobody(Order of the Phoenix 256). This is a good example of how Nevilles self esteem has been negatively impacted because of bullies such as Draco Malfoy, consistently treating him like a nobody. Much like Neville Longbottom, Severus Snape is another character in the Harry Potter series that suffers from a past of bullying. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry travels deep inside Snapes mind and experiences some of his worst memories from his childhood, which still remain with him today. We discover Snape and James Potter (Harrys father) experienced a rough past together. Snape was always bullied by James Potter; most of the time for being a funny looking kid and outcast from everyone else. James Potter would gang up on Snape and knock his wand out of his hand, put bubbles in his mouth and practically humiliate him in any way possible. James Potter was known to be the popular, cocky; Quidditch Hero while Snape always seemed to be sitting on the sidelines by himself. Not only this, but Snape also had a deep fascination with dark magic which James Potter did not agree with. According to Psychology Todays article titled Neglected Children are Typically Shy, Children who exhibit difficulties socially or have disturbing behaviors may become rejected/neglected amongst their peers (Schiltz 1). As previously stated, Snape was the funny

Stevens 6 looking outcast, who was also into dark magic which disturbed James Potter. Both of these are key reasons as to why Snape was a bully victim of James Potter. When Snape was young he also created a spell known as Sectumsempra, which he had planned to use against James Potter or any others who he felt threatened by. This spell essentially slashed the enemy, causing severe blood loss. It was a form of dark magic and served as Snapes way to defend himself against his enemies. This is a good example of how sometimes bullied children could become violent or aggressive, because of all the built up tension. Although this rivalry was between Harrys father and Snape, it ended up affecting Harry even after his fathers death. Snape negatively brings up James Potter to Harry multiple times throughout the series such as, Youre just like your father! Lazy and arrogant or Your father was a swine! (Order of the Phoenix) Snape takes out his resentment towards James Potter on Harry, because of his past experiences with his father. Even though Harry had never done anything harmful directly towards Snape, the resentment still affects Harry. Along with being a bully victim of James Potter, Severus Snape was also neglected by his father at a young age. When he and Lily Evans were young, Lily asked him if his father liked magic. Snape replies, He doesnt like anything much (Deathly Hallows). This can connect back to my previous quote about neglected children often being victims of bullies. Snapes father never really supported his magic, making Snape feel neglected and in turn becoming a more reserved person. Later in the chapter we read, She (Lily) hadnt realized how close to the truth she hit. He hadnt either, at ten the slightest insight until over a decade later(Deathly Hallows). The child neglect Snape received from his father and bullying received from James Potter is remembered as, his worst memory (Deathly Hallows) even over a decade later.

Stevens 7 As we all know, Harry Potter suffered from a large time period of child abuse and neglect from aunt and uncle who served his guardians after his parents death. While living at home, Harry is forced to live in a cupboard underneath the staircase of the Dursley residence. He isnt fed well, and punished for unnecessary situations by not being fed well; in turn created him to become malnourished. Dudley, Harrys cousin has a habit of physically abusing Harry and referring to him as his favorite punching bag (Sorcerers Stone). As Harry grows up in the Dudley household, he learns to stay as far as possible from his uncle to avoid any physical abuse from him. He grows a fear of being within close range with his uncle because of his past physical abuse received from him. Though out Harrys childhood of living with his aunt and uncle, he grows costumed to having his emotions put towards the side. Past events impact people in their present life, and future life in many ways that most do not realize. Negative past encounters commonly lead to phobias and fears, affecting people in their day-to-day living. This frequently prevents the victim from going places, or accomplishing certain task because of the fear the past encounter may affect them again. We see examples of this throughout the Harry Potter series in Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. Kids and teens who suffer from a past of bullying commonly experience sadness such as low-self confidence, lowacademic achievement, depression or anxiety. Along with this sometimes bully victims react in the opposite manner, by becoming angry and violent later in their life because of all the built up resentment towards past bullies. An example of this is Severus Snape creating a dark magic spell as a defensive mechanism. Along with the strong mental impact many bully victims are left with, many are left injured for the rest of their life. Failing to provide for you child in any way for a successful future can leave them depressed, malnourished, or grow fears of living their life properly. This is demonstrated in the Harry Potter Series through Harry and his

Stevens 8 relationship with his aunt and uncle. All of these issues affect not only the victim but can also affect those around them. The mental disorders found in the victim can prevent them from properly providing for their loved ones. If we as people strive to provide help for those with phobias, prevent bullying when seen or recognize when we are neglecting our children our future generations could be much more healthier both mentally and physically.

Citations: "All Those Weird Ron Quotes Chapter 1: Following the Butterflies, a Harry Potter Fanfic | FanFiction." All Those Weird Ron Quotes Chapter 1: Following the Butterflies, a Harry Potter Fanfic | FanFiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. "Come Once Again and Love Me Chapter 9: IX, a Harry Potter Fanfic | FanFiction." Come Once Again and Love Me Chapter 9: IX, a Harry Potter Fanfic | FanFiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. Jankauskiene, R., Kardelis, K., Sukys, S., & Kardeliene, L. (2008). ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN SCHOOL BULLYING AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS. Social Behavior and Personality, 36(2), 145-161. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/209925718?accountid=4840 "Quotes by and about Petunia, Vernon & Dudley Dursley." HPL:. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. "Sign In." Sign In. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. "Snape's Worst Memory." YouTube. YouTube, 05 Feb. 2008. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. "Somatic Psychology." Child Neglect and Adult PTSD. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. Stoltenborgh, M., Bakermans-kranenburg, M., & van IJzendoorn, M.,H. (2013). The neglect of child neglect: A meta-analytic review of the prevalence of neglect. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48(3), 345-55. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0549-y "The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. "Wikia." Harry Potter Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. "What Is the Difference between Fear and Phobias?" WikiAnswers. Answers Corporation, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

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"1 in 6 Students Is Regularly Bullied, Survey Shows." Msnbc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. "$4.2 Million Settlement for Student Paralyzed by Bully." NBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.