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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Abnormal Behaviour In A Child?

My son is 6 years old and has told his friend that he has a girlfriend named Anna. My name is Anna....and he doesnt know another Anna. He seemed very embarrassed when I found this out. Is he going through the Oedipus Complex? How should I handle this?
Thu, 28 Aug 2014
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Pediatrician,  's  Response
Thanks for expressing your concern on HealthCareMagic. I understand your concerns about your 6 year old child but probably there is no cause of concern. With his creativity, burgeoning imagination fuels this wonderful fictitious creation, someone who accompanies him as he explores the world. Our understanding of developmental psychology tells us that for a child it is not unusual or abnormal to have an 'imaginary friend'. In Piaget's second stage of cognitive development, the pre-operational stage which starts when the child begins to learn to speak at age two and lasts up until the age of seven, a child can have an imaginary friend and may indulge in symbolic play. These imaginary friends are, according to some children, physically indistinguishable from real people, while others say they see their imaginary friends only in their heads. These characters naturally get built with the raw material in the environment. Since you are an essential part of his environment, a resemblance with you is neither unusual nor abnormal. There seems to be no abnormality. Stay relaxed.
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Pediatrician,  Dr. Meera Kotecha's  Response
Hi, thanks for asking.
It may be odepial complex. I would suggest you do not pay much attention to it. Positive or negative attention may either embarrass him or may worsen the situation.
I hope I have helped you
Thank you
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What Causes Abnormal Behaviour In A Child?

Thanks for expressing your concern on HealthCareMagic. I understand your concerns about your 6 year old child but probably there is no cause of concern. With his creativity, burgeoning imagination fuels this wonderful fictitious creation, someone who accompanies him as he explores the world. Our understanding of developmental psychology tells us that for a child it is not unusual or abnormal to have an imaginary friend . In Piaget s second stage of cognitive development, the pre-operational stage which starts when the child begins to learn to speak at age two and lasts up until the age of seven, a child can have an imaginary friend and may indulge in symbolic play. These imaginary friends are, according to some children, physically indistinguishable from real people, while others say they see their imaginary friends only in their heads. These characters naturally get built with the raw material in the environment. Since you are an essential part of his environment, a resemblance with you is neither unusual nor abnormal. There seems to be no abnormality. Stay relaxed.