The achievement by proxy spectrum in youth sports. Historical perspective and clinical approach to pressured and high-achieving children and adolescents

Abstract

This article, with examples of the descriptively defined three stages of achievement by proxy distorted (ABPD) behavior, should increase awareness of this field by facilitating communication, enabling child psychiatrists and other professionals to identify the "red flags" that can lead to abuse and exploitation of children and adolescents, and further contributing toward psychoeducation of self-help skills in parents and other adults with the goal of understanding motivations for ABPD behaviors and risky rationalizations, in addition to creating prevention strategies.