As I prepare to teach my latency class, I am struck by this sentence from the article entitled Assaultive Behavior in the Analysis of Children by Herman Daldin PhD. He says "I believe verbalization will reduce the intensity of affects". Every parent knows that to minimize aggression a child should be taught to "use your words". The substitution of language for action is intended to allow the child the freedom to have his feelings, but to not allow the child to hurt others or to hurt property. However, perrhaps there is more to the edict "use your words" then the teaching of internal control over a feeling state. Perhaps, as Dr. Daldin suggests, the words actually change the feeling state.

When we think of psychotherapy we know that at times, people feel better when they have described their internal and external experiences. The key ingredient to their relief is not just sharing their story, but that the very act of verbalizing their experience changes how they experience their situation.