Evolving Schemas of Homeless Children

Abstract

Young homeless children face many adverse circumstances, unlike children who are nurtured in supportive families and stable homes. Given experiences of chaos, unpredictability, and upheaval, homeless children are placed in jeopardy with regard to meeting their needs for successful developmental outcomes. In particular, these experiences likely cause fear and anxiety, with consequences that adversely affect psychological development and lead to disempowerment of the self and learned helplessness. Using principles of positive psychology and guiding homeless children toward the creation of schemas of resilience and self-confidence can provide them with the basis for adaptation, happiness, and appropriate decision making.

Keywords

• homelessness
• cognitive schemas
• learned optimism