AHP Perspective is a magazine published bi-monthly for members of the Association for Humanistic Psychology. It includes interviews, articles, essays, updates on member activities, conference announcements, and book reviews. Members receive the complete AHP Perspective as part of their membership.

AHP PERSPECTIVE April/May 2000 Table of Contents

CIRCUMCISION, THE HIDDEN TRAUMA:How An American Cultural Practice Affects Children and Ultimately Us All
By Ronald Goldman, foreword by Ashley Montagu
Boston: Vanguard Pub., 1997.
Reviewed by Lynn Vaughn

Most of the world (80%) rejects circumcision; the United States is the only country that circumcises most of its male infants for nonreligious reasons. In the average pre-birth parenting class, circumcision is discussed for less than ten minutes, yet most parents consent to this unanes-thesized surgical procedure, believing that their baby will experience only "temporary discomfort," not excruciating pain. Some physicians have called the procedure "barbaric," or, "the rape of the phallus"; there is no question that for an adult such an experience would be intolerable [traumatic]. The infant functions on a very deep feeling-experiential-body level that relies upon a different kind of knowing than the intellectual. Investigators (Anand and Hickey) at Childrens Hospital in Boston found that newborn responses to pain are "similar but greater than those observed in adult subjects." More recent cortisol and autonomic function measurements confirmed these findings. After-circumcision effects are documented by numerous physicians, mothers, and nurses. Among them are: irritability, poor nursing, inconsolable crying, irregular sleep patterns, lesssened ability to self-comfort.

A prospective father reported to Goldman that soon after he found out that his wife was pregnant, he knew that he could not have his son tortured in such a manner. "It seemed like the first time I had ever really watched the procedure, even though I had done dozens in medical school. The baby was absolutely panicked and exhibited the most shrill and desperate behavior one could imagine! The pediatrician continued his mutiliation as if nothing were happening. I almost vomited."

Words such as "mutilate" and "trauma" are not typically associated with circumcision because they stir uncomfortable feelings. The subject is so disagreeable that most people avoid it, both consciously and unconsciously through denial. To "mutilate" is to damage or injure by removing a part or parts. Circumcision removes a normal, healthy, functioning part of the penis, a part which has as its purpose a protective role, and one of delicate sensitivity during sexual experience. This mutilation leaves a physical scar after the wound has healed. Circumcision also leaves significant emotional and spiritual scars. Denial itself (both familial and societal) serves to encapsulate and conceal anxiety and pain connected with the practice. Sexual dysfunctions, depression, diminished body image, violence, avoidance of intimacy, emotional dis- tancing, etc., are all results. Gold-man suggests further awareness, deeper research, and discussion.

Although long-term memory has been demonstrated behaviorally in monkeys, rats, migratory songbirds, snails, fruit flies, and ants, it seems inconceivable to me that we have persuaded ourselves that our own tiny and expressive infants have no memory of such a physical, psychological, and spiritual assault. Healing the children and ourselves will take awareness, responsibility, courage, and action.

AHP PERSPECTIVE April/May 2000 Table of Contents

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