FROM RESILIENCE TO WELL-BEING STREET SITUATION CHILDREN & COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM Aurea Alcalde, Alejandra Palacios, Mara Julia

Alcalde INTRODUCTION

The children who survive in streets and parks, as a product of economical, polit ical and social crisis, have been usually called Street children. These kids with out home and family, in a risk and vulnerability situation, without the protecti on and natural rights -all the children must have all over the world- have recei ved different names: meninos da rua (Brasil), gamines (Colombia), pelones (Mexico), ca ecitas negras (Buenos Aires), twilight children (South Africa), etc. They experienced a sinister metamorphosis inside their homes. Love, protection and confidence were replaced by deprivation, conflict, violence, anxiety and ang uish. They felt forced to runaway due to maltreatment and sexual abuse experien ce in their dysfunctional environments, abandoning the known for the uncertain. O therwise they were exposed to death physical or psychical, and the street became the only hope of survival. However, the street is also a threaten place, and implies a permanent emergency si tuation, which adds more complexity and conflict to inner world and to the artic ulation with this special environment, affecting their adaptation possibilities. The conflict these kids are living day after day is represented by Escila and Ca ribdis. They are in the middle of two menaces, but they are not Uliyses, a myth ology hero, they are real human beings. In Peru, communication media and common people call these children piraas, piraitas. This appelative is associated with laburo (group assault to transient), survival a ctivity of this children and adolescent, floating population who pullulate along the streets. These terms Street children and piraitas denote discrimination and stigmatization fro m the society, generating around them a negative atmosphere, fear and incomprehe nsion from the authorities and all the community. World Health Organization presented a new denomination Children in Street situati on. They are also called Children with Street life experience. These are attempt s to avoid or control in part the negative implications. Most of these children in Peru come from dysfunctional or reconstructed families . Commonly they have the unique presence of the mother, who must work to suppor t her family, play two roles, and many times fails. Some families have migrated from the country, and the city only proportioned them extreme poverty, stress, increasing the initial complex situation. Some children came to Lima, to the houses of friends or relatives, looking for b etter possibilities of growth and achievement, their parents were not able to gi ve them. Some of them are terrorism orphans. These children population is instable and fluctuating. They are located in aven ues, abandoned places, parks, commercial zones, etc. They prefer places with co mmercial activity, because there are more public and adult delinquents use to fr equent. Actually these children are norms transgressors and inhalants consumers compelle

d by starving and basic needs. The society and authorities do not give them the help they need to survive and get the growth and development every person requi res, and has the right. The present of these children is chaotic and their fut ure is associated to delinquency, illness or death, if they do not receive the h elp they need from the community, responsible institutions and the State. According Peruvian Constitution of the State (Article 4): The community and state must protect children and adolescents in abandon conditio n. The American Convention about Human Rights (Article 19) says: Every child has the right to protection actions his early age requires from his f amily, society and state. The Convention about Children Rights (Article 403) says: The state has the oblig ation to give laws driven for children rights. In fact, the adversity proceeds from an environment charged by conflict and viol ence and by negative parent imago and models, that can produce stress and trauma tic situations, including depression, reality break and suicide. However, these vulnerable, unprotected and defenseless creatures are able many t imes to tolerate these stressing circumstances and to cope with the overwhelming adversities. Even more, they can show high levels of frustration resistance an d finally acquire more strength and protective energy crossing over the violence and adverse situations. From some years ago there is an increasingly interest in Resilience, the reactiv e capacity developed by persons exposed to risk and traumatic situations. In th is case we are interested in children and adolescents, specially those kids in s treet situation, or with street life experience, who play an emblematic role in Resilience issue. If Resilience is a psychological capacity, it is able to be stimulated and impro ved. Protector elements will generate resilience attitudes through the positive influence of a relationship with one or more meaningful persons. In fact, the role of the responsible adult in charge of children and adolescents in risk stat e (mentors), assume such importance to develop protective elements, diminishing the vulnerability situation. According this criterion, we have a very valuable element for the development of the population, to empower the protective factors, and reduce the life risk of this segment of the population, specially children and adolescents, persons in t ransit, in developing process who need adults love, help, orientation and suppor t to construct their own future. Our interest in identify the resilient factors of the personality through a psyc hological assessment is associated with the need to know the real resources and limitations of these children, in order to program regulated actions and interv entions related to health promotion, oriented to propitiate better life conditio ns, not only the prevention of specific damages, since well-being, like final ac hievement. On this road, we need a psychological instrument to get trusty information of th e inner reality of these children, basic data for the elaboration of programs an d activities for promotion and growth of Resilience. The Comprehensive System Rorschach-Exner offers a ways multiplicity to acquire i nformation. The Clusters analysis give the possibility to work with each one of the variables configurations partial or totally, according every researcher cri teria, objectives and requirements of the project.

The resilient behavior depends of internal and external factors. The selected v ariables of Comprehensive System give us relevant and reliable information about inner world of these children. In consequence, to acquire more knowledge about this matter, will propitiate better interventions for the promotion of resilien t behavior and attitudes oriented to a healthy development. METHODOLOGY Sample: Twenty male children, 12 and 13 years old, literate, with basic scholarship, wit hout confirmed documents, recently entered to a shelter home in Metropolitan Lim a, after a long remain in street situation. Objective: -Identify the intrapsychics characteristics of these children through Rors chach-Exner Comprehensive System -Identify the Rorschach-Exner Comprehensive System variables capable to me asure intrapsychic factors associated to Resilience construction or reconstructi on in this population, in risk situation. -Integrate this information with two existing models for Resilience constr uction, oriented to potentiate resilient behaviors and attitudes toward a health y development of the infant and juvenile population: A) The Sources of Resilience, investigated by Edith Grotberg: I am, I can, I have (1997). B) The Pillars of Resilience, actualized by Nstor Surez Ojeda: Introspection, Autonomy, Relationship capacity, Initiative, Creativity, Morality and Consisten t Self-Esteem (1997). Instrument: Rorschach Test. Exner Comprehensive System Methodology. . Administration: Individual form. . Interpretation: Quantitative and qualitative factors anlysis. . Validity and Reliability: Scientifically probed in extent. The Comprehensive System is an instrument with international prestige that provi des a comprehensive assessment of basic aspects of psychological functioning. I t is one of the most researched assessment instruments available and, as such, t he quality, strength, and integrity continue to evolve and improve, due to the p ermanent revision and research contributions from all the countries. This study is based in a descriptive design. We have used medias and percentage s for the description and interpretation of the variables studied. We also have used the international norms of the Comprehensive System (World Children) with comparative reference purpose, like a contrast group. Procedure and measures: A) Analysis: Rorschach-Exner Comprehensive System selected variables were analyzed in three m ain areas: 1. COGNITIVE FACTORS: Analysis of Comprehensive System variables that investigat e the resources economy and the state of mediation, ideation and information pro cessing in these children. Selected variables from Mediation Cluster and Percept ion-Thinking Index (PTI) Exner, J.E. Jr. (2000). 2. TRAUMA: Analysis of selected variables of Traumatic Symtomatology Index (TSI) . Armstrong, J. (2002) joined Rorschach Comprehensive System variables, propos ed for Rorschach researchers (Armstrong & Lowenstein, 1990; Levin & Reiss, 1996; Scroppo & coll., 1998; Lovitt & Lefkoff, 1985; Hartmann & coll.; Armstrong, 199 1; Holaday, 2000 and others). These variables are associated with the individua l self defense against pain generated by internal and external pressures of the

traumatic experience. The subjects studied are non-patient, but they have experienced traumatic situat ions from their early years, then it is important to know if there is or not ass ociated symtomatology. 3. RESILIENCE: Identification of Comprehensive System variables and constellatio n variables related to intrapsychic factors (strength and weakness), possibly as sociated with the characteristics of resilient individuals. Selected variables of Resilience construction (RCI: Resilient Characteristics In dex) were joined by Alcalde, Aurea; Alcalde, Mara Julia; Palacios, Alejandra (200 6). To achieve a successful intervention in risk population like Children in Street Situation, using strategies associated to generate Resilience, we first have to identify the individual characteristics and differences. This element is indispe nsable for avoid suppositions and generalizations that could interfere with the proposed objectives. B) Integration: Articulation of the Comprehensive System results (Resilience Predictors) with th e Resilience models or working systems recognized worldly: Resilience Sources (Edith Grotberg, 1997) Resilience Pillars (Surez, 1997). RESULTS The results are exposed in five analysis areas: 1) COGNITIVE FACTORS APPROACH.The comparison between the studied group and the contrast group (World children) presents no evidences of difficulties in mediation, ideation or information pro cessing. 2) TRAUMATIC SYMTOMATOLOGY FACTORS.There are six positive traumatic symtomatology factors of a ten list, and they a re: Afr low: Affective torpidness. X + % low or Xu % high: Atypical vision of reality. H high or H > Hd: Self image and real experience distortion. L high: Elimination of the reality perturbation. His simplistic response ignore s the complexity of the reality. EB introversive and M high: Elimination of the internal and external experience through the fantasy. m high: Lost of control centered in retrospective images experiences. 3) COPING STYLE & SAMPLE DIVISION.The Rorschach-Exner variables: Lambda (L) and Vivential Style (EB) report the p resence of three coping styles in the sample subjects. These are: Avoidant styl e, Introversive style and Ambigual style. In consequence, the sample is classified in three groups: A Group: Evitative style (50%). This group is formed by 10 children: 5, 12 year s old and 5, 13 years old. B Group: Introversive style (30%). This group is formed by 6 children: 3, 12 ye ars old and 3, 13 years old. C Group: Ambigual style (20%). This group is formed by 4 children, 12 years old . World Children: Norms of Comprehensive System, play the contrast group role.

4) INTRAPSYCHIC FACTORS (Strength and Weakness) Rorschach Comprehensive System and Resilience: The Comprehensive System variables studied belong to: a) Control Cluster, b) Affects Cluster, c) Self-perception Cluster d) Perception and Interpersonal Behavior Cluster A.- Aspirations Level and Conventional or Divergent Coping Style Analysis.Analysis of this issue with a comparative approach between the three studied gro ups: A: Evitative, B: Introversive, C: Ambigual and the contrast group: World Ch ildren reports: Divergent style to cope the reality is present in all the groups. A: Evitative and C: Ambigual groups: the expectations exceed their real possibil ities, but Hope factor is present. B: Introversive group: Expectations, achievement capacity and adaptive possibili ties are present. B.- Coping, Affects and Control Analysis.A: Evitative group: They show efficiency in perfectly structured situations, fre e of ambiguity. B: Introversive group: They postpone their activities and avoid feelings until t hey can get a decision. C: Ambigual group: They present no predictable behavior and they are less assert ive to take decisions or to solve problems. C.- Self-Perception Analysis.The whole studied children group (A, B and C) present low self-esteem, low selfperception and low perception of the other persons based on imagination and inte rnal representations, according more with fantasy than reality. A: Evitative group and B: Introversive group show predisposition to introspection. D.-Perception and Interpersonal Behavior Analysis.B: Introversive group present Coping Deficit Index (CDI) negative, but some soci al skills difficulties. A: Evitative group, and C: Ambigual Group present Coping Deficit Index positive that indicates social immaturity. A: Evitative group and B: Introversive group are oriented to adopt a passive rol e in their interpersonal relationship. C: Ambigual group: show more independence and autonomy in their behavior. Most of these children present interest and capacity to establish vinculums that modulate affects in harmonic way. The children of the three groups present potentials to establish effective and a dequate interpersonal behavior. But also, there is a tendency to behave less active, with low interest and certa in rejection to daily social relations. A: Evitative group present a tendency to determine social interactions like more positive than negative. B: Introversive group social interactions are characterized by aggression and ri valry. However, they have potentials to act in a more constructive and collabora tor way. C: Ambigual group conceive social interactions like aggressive and rivalry relat ionships. All the three groups present Hypervigilance Index negative. It indicates the ca pacity of establish a confidence relationship with protectors figures and develo p RESILIENCE capacity. INTEGRATION:

In a road search to journey from Trauma, through Resilience to Well-being we hav e obtained a profile with the strength found in the studied children according c oping style. The Resilience Predictors (characteristics associated to strength identified by Comprehensive System), have been unified in an integrated scheme with two Resili ence models: Sources (Grotberg) and Pillars (Surez). The contribution represented for this integration work is that classic qualita tive assessment and intervention instruments will be enriched with quantitative and qualitative approaches, Comprehensive System value. If the strength characteristics are identified in a more differentiated mode, th e intervention strategies and promotion of resilient behaviors will work in a mo re systematic and differentiated way. Protector factors of the studied group: I HAVE: Behavior professionals who are working scientifically to propitiate I ca n have the rights I deserve, a healthy development, Well-being, be able to impro ve my life quality level and evolve to be a model citizen for my country. CONCLUSIONS 1. Cognitive Factors: The studied subjects do not present difficulties in the fu nctions of mediation, ideation or information and responses processing, and they have the enough capacity to generate appropriate responses to the situations. 2. Trauma: The studied subjects present 6 positive of 10 reactions (6/10) in Tra umatic Sympomatology Index (TSI). 3. Living Styles: The studied subjects present three different Vivential Styles: Evitative, Introversive and Ambigual. 4. Resilience: Intrapsychic factors identified, associated with Resilience belon g to areas: Control, Affects, Self-Esteem, Perception and Interpersonal Behavior -according Comprehensive System- and were joined in a Resilience Characteristic s Index (RCI). 5. Integration: Resilience Rorschach Predictors (RRP), findings obtained through the Comprehensive System, integrated with the Resilience Systems: Resources (Gr otberg) and Pillars (Surez). 6. Identification Profile of Inner Intrapsychic Resilience Factors, results of t he integration of this research findings (Comprehensive System/Exner) with Resil ience Sources (Grotberg) and Resilience Pillars (Surez), to be used as an instrum ent of detection, promotion, projects elaboration, interventions and evaluation of Resilience process.