Dr. Herb Brenden is a retired Minneapolis area psychologist who devoted much of his 44-year career to family therapy, helping children and adults cope with various issues. He is also a Vikings fan and former high school football player.
Dr. Brenden was asked about the Adrian Peterson incident that has led to Peterson facing criminal charges and indefinite suspension from the Vikings. Peterson allegedly abused his four-year-old son—who lives in Minnesota—during a visit to the running back’s Texas home last spring. Peterson faces a child abuse indictment in Montgomery County and international media attention has been on Peterson during the past week, but what about the status of the four year old that was reportedly punished using a switch with leaves stuffed in his mouth?
Peterson experienced physical discipline during his own childhood. The use of corporal punishment is often passed from one generation to the next. Dr. Brenden said that could be a way the four year old will be impacted long-term after he becomes an adult.
“You see what happened to Adrian. He’s repeating some of the same patterns that his mother and father used,” Dr. Brenden said. “It’s a very quick way to get a response from a child, but the emotional underpinnings are so disastrous.”
In the short-term the child may have learned to become aggressive around his peers while also growing fearful of his famous father, a 29-year-old man with a powerful physical presence. “It’s pretty hard to develop a good bonding if you’re fearful,” Dr. Brenden said.
Photographs of the child’s body showed injuries including bruises and cuts. It’s not difficult to imagine the boy’s emotional hurt and humiliation. “You can see why so many people just kind of almost go into an absent state of mind (in that situation),” Dr. Brenden said. “They’re just powerless. Who is going to be able to counteract a strong guy like Peterson?”
In recent days the subject of corporal punishment in child rearing has prompted a national discussion with proponents arguing if used properly it can be beneficial, and that switches and belts are a widely accepted practice in the South. But using a switch—a tree branch stripped of its leaves—or a belt on a child is not something family therapists approve. “We’ve been discouraging that as long as I can remember,” Dr. Brenden said.
Peterson has stated he didn’t intend to harm his son. The boy reportedly wasn’t crying during the incident, and that may have caused Peterson to go further with the switching than he might otherwise have done, according to Dr. Brenden. “You can see where people become even more aggressive,” Dr. Brenden said.
Peterson’s career is in limbo as he awaits a court hearing next month and possible trial in 2015. He has gone from one of pro sports’ most decorated heroes to someone who may never play for the Vikings again, with a career and reputation in free-fall. His situation has drawn the ire of NFL sponsors, merchandisers, fans and media.
Dr. Brenden said the incident with Peterson’s son has likely been a major blow to the Texas native’s self-esteem. “Can you imagine going from having your picture advertised on the new (Vikings) stadium to just being an outcast where people can’t buy your jersey and anything else? It would be just devastating.”
Peterson has already consulted with a psychologist and Dr. Brenden said it’s important for Peterson to receive counseling over a period of time. Eventually Peterson could learn from his mistakes and become a better dad to the several children he has fathered out of wedlock including the four year old. “I think if this doesn’t trigger some action on his part (to be a better parent) it’s pretty hard to imagine anything that would,” Dr. Brenden said.
The NFL has taken a mega public relations blow over the Peterson incident and the Ray Rice assault of his girlfriend. An optimist would hope Peterson and Rice both become informed and sincere spokesmen about domestic abuse. “I would say that a lot of people become even more of an advocate for the things that they’ve been guilty of doing—child abuse (and) spousal abuse,” Dr. Brenden said. “Some of them are actually doing seminars for other players where they talk about what they’ve learned and new ways of doing what’s best.”
The NFL is facing a flurry of negative publicity including the impact of concussions on players. Public awareness is growing, too, about domestic assault reports, and drinking and drug charges. The league’s policy failures have prompted calls for commissioner Roger Goodell to resign.
But Americans are addicted to the NFL and games continue to be the most watched national TV programming. Fans remain passionate despite the news about players like Peterson and Rice, and the inconsistent and failed responses to problems by the Vikings and league office in disciplining offenders.
Dr. Brenden may be in the minority among fans who will dial down their attention. “I’ll be less interested in what’s happening with them (the Vikings) on the field because of all the things that are happening, not only with the players but with the administration,” he said. “They (the Vikings) really botched this, and then the NFL (too). They’ve been so powerful that they haven’t had to consider any kind of consquences. It looks like when sponsors start cutting back funds it gets their attention. It’s obvious they haven’t had a good plan to deal with abuse.”
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