There are plenty of cases where one child was placed and other children in the same household, despite suffering the same problem (things like drunk/drugged par

There are plenty of cases where one child was placed and other children in the same household, despite suffering the same problem (things like drunk/drugged parent, bad living arrangements, that would not differ from one child to another), did not. This happens quite often because almost everywhere, a child is placed pretty much in 2 cases 1) extreme distress (ie. child directly dumped on street, or parents involved in car crash, ... some extreme cases like that) 2) when there is free space. Free space almost universally means "1 place". Families often aren't just 1 child. It may be months or even longer before a second place opens up, and things may happen that mean the other children are never placed. Which also means that for instance, children from the same family only rarely end up in the same place. But "luckily" it allows us to verify exactly what the cause is. So no, it really is treatment that is the source of the harm. The weird part is that when talking to children you will find out it doesn't just not matter for intelligence. Most abuse, that falls short of permanent physical damage obviously, does not even make children unhappy. Seriously. I mean it's simple once you think it through, but it's so incredibly weird. This is incredible the first time you see an interview with such a kid. "I thought it was normal that parents force you to stand outside with your dinner plate and keep you there until bed time". It seriously did not bother that kid. "What's wrong with that ?". Even with much worse things. You even see this about youth services itself. A kid that has been locked up for a decade, never once allowed to go to school. "Treated" to solitary confinement for often trivial infractions sometimes once a week, never allowed so much privacy as a single drawer. Forced to take medication, sometimes tied up and fed medication with tubes. They will say "they were just trying to take care of me". And ask in amazement if you think she deserves better, then asks what better would be. I mean it makes sense if you think about how a mind, that does not have a point of comparison, must think. It's only lasting source of information is the abusers (or the youth services staff). And of course, hearing an anecdote of a different situation does not change things. But ... it's incredible when you see it. Hell, you get shown it, it is in the literature, you see it on videos, and you still won't believe it. But I assure you this is very true. The only thing that happens is the role switch. Kids brought up in youth care almost all eventually attack their carers. Kids abused at home attack their parents. Not because they want protection (they may do it to give protection to others though). They do it "because it's normal". If your dad beats you, you "learn" for the day you're strong enough to beat him. And of course, that day will come. If you get thrown to the ground and locked up by youth care employees, sooner or later you get the better of the employee and it won't be their best day. Kids will do to you (and to others) whatever you do to them, eventually.