'Gimme Shelter: Agnes Apple' Bailey

Final Presentation: Gimme Shelter: Agnes "Apple" Bailey

The case study information and history regarding Agnes “Apple” Bailey have been taken from the movie “Gimme Shelter.” The movie was written and directed by Ron Krauss. Its main characters include: Vanessa Hudgens, as Agnes “Apple” Bailey, an abused and pregnant teen; Rosario Dawson, as June Bailey, Apple’s biological mother; Brendan Fraser, as Tom Fitzpatrick, Apple’s biological father (Krauss, Claire, Rice, & Steindorff, 2013). There are various other characters throughout the movie however; they do not have significant impact on the case study.

Case Study
Agnes “Apple” Bailey is a 16 year old female. She is currently a ward of the court. Apple was born in New York. She is a single mother of one daughter. Apple’s biological parents are June Bailey and Tom Fitzpatrick. Apple’s biological mother June is a drug addict and prostitute. Apple father is a Wall Street broker. Apple’s father was 19 years old when he impregnated her mother. However, the parents were separated before she was

born due to difference in cultural upbringing. Apple did not have any association with her father other than a letter she received when she was a young child. In this letter from her biological father noted that Agnes was the apple of his eye. That is the reason Agnes uses the alias Apple.

While in custody of her biological mother Apple was exposed to mental, physical and emotional abuse. Due to Apples mother being a drug addict she was unable to properly care for Apple. Apple was often left without proper supervision, lacked food, and had poor hygiene. Apples mother also attempted to raise her daughter in the same life style she lived. The result of this was child neglect. As a consequence of child neglect Apple has been in several foster homes throughout the years. As a product of Apple being place into unfit foster homes, Apples abuse continued, including being molested and raped. None the less, against Apple wishes, she was reunited with her biological mother by the department of children services.

At the age of 16 Apple had a breakdown and cut off her hair. During this breaking down she would mumble to herself that she was not afraid repetitiously. No longer able to with stand her mother’s abuse Apple ran away in hopes of locate her biological father. Upon locating her father house she was arrested for breaking and entering. Apples father dropped the charges once he recognized her. Although Apple was able to reunite with her biological father she was unable to fit in. She was well below social norms regarding ability to intergrade with others. Apple lacked basic living and social skills. Due this she was rejected by her biological father’s wife. During this time it was found that Apple was pregnant. Apple was then forced to have an abortion. However, Apple did not follow through with the abortion. Instead Apple ran to the street for shelter.

While living on the street of New York, Apple forged for food in dumpster and found shelter in unlocked cars parked on public streets. While living on the streets Apple was approached by a pimp offering her a business opportunity. When Apple refused his offer the pimp attempted to kidnap her. Upon entering the truck Apple was able to get into the driver seat and steal the pimp’s truck. Being that Apple could not drive she crashed the truck. When she awoke from the accident she found herself hand cuffed to a hospital bed.

While in custody of the hospital Apple’s caseworker bought her mother to visit her. Apples mother continued to verbally abuse her. Apple’s mother informed her that she owed it to her mother to come home now that she was pregnant. The reason for this was so Apple’s mother could now collect more welfare for both Apple and grandchild. Apple knowing that her mother’s intentions were not in Apple’s best interest she refused to be placed with her mother. Upon release, Apple was place in shelter for pregnant teens. Being that Apples biological mother still obtained her parental rights, she did not approve of Apple remaining in the shelter. When Apple’s biological mother attempted to have her removed from the shelter Apple resisted. This infuriated Apple’s mother. Apples mother then began to strike her several times. Being that Apple’s biology mother physical and verbal abuse Apple at the shelter the manager was able to have the mother removed. Apple remained at the shelter on am emergency hold.

Apple biological father was notified and the reunification process began. During this time Apples daughter was born. Although positive growth was accomplished between Apple, her daughter and her biological father, she chose to remain at the shelter. Apple felt that she had built a stable family foundation for her and her daughter at the shelter.

Diagnosis & treatment
Apple clearly struggle with multiple diagnoses. It is common for children in the foster system to be labeled as having oppositional defiance disorder, conduct disorder, major depressive episodes, panic attack and intermittent explosive disorder. The most common mental disorder you will find in foster children like Apple is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A study of children in foster care revealed that PTSD was diagnosed in 60% of sexually abused children and in 42% of the physically abused children (Dubner & Motta, 1999, p. 373). Studies have also shown that 18% of foster children who may not have been exposed to either type of abuse still show signs of PTSD. This may contribute to outside violence, such as, domestic violence or community violence (Marsenich, 2002).
Apple also displays symptoms of major depressive episodes, and possible oppositional defiance disorder. All which may possibly be treated through the theoretical humanistic approach of self actualization with the technique of client centered therapy (Rogers, C. R.,1946, para. 20). According to Carl Rogers and his theory of client centered therapy it is stated:
“But we have not known or recognized that in most if not all individuals there exist growth forces, tendencies toward self-actualization, which may act as the sole motivation for therapy….These forces drive the individual to explore his own attitudes and his relationship to reality” (Rogers, C. R.,1946).
By allowing Apple to find her true self she can begin to heal from her past trauma. She can begin to find the inner strength to become who she has the potential to be. She can begin to explore her attitude and feeling towards her fears and anxiety at a rate that is comfortable without causing more traumas. She can begin the healing process as it allows Apple to find herself becoming a more centered and wholesome persons.

Theoretical framework: Humanism
Humanism is a psychological theory that focuses on the study of the whole person. Human behavior is looked at not only through the eyes of the person observing the behavior. It is also looked at through the eyes of the person who is portraying such behaviors (McLead, 2007, para. 2). Humanistic psychologist believes that humans have personal agency which refers to the choices that are made in life and their consequences (McLead, 2007, para. 8).

Psychologists that practice the humanistic theory believe that a person’s behaviors are connected to their inner feeling and self concept.

According to Carl Rogers (1959) self concept has three different components: The view you have of yourself (Self image); How much value you place on yourself (Self esteem or self-worth); What you wish you were really like (Ideal self). These ideas of self concept do not necessary have to reflect the reality of what is to be known as truth to the outside observer. Such as in the case of those who struggle with anorexia. Though they may appear to the observer as being extremely underweight through the eyes of the observed they find themselves to be overweight. This is believed to be related to concept of self image. Baumeister (1999) provides the following self concept definition: "the individual's belief about himself or herself, including the person's attributes and who and what the self

is".

Further more humanistic theory adds that humans are basically good and have the desire to make the world a better place. That people have the need to make oneself better. Humanistic theory focus on the personal worth of an individual, the crucial importance of human value and the creative, active nature of human beings (McLead, 2007, para. 9). The theory is an positive approach and focuses on ability of human competence to overcome adversity, pain and hopelessness.
The History of Humanistic Psychology
In 1943 Maslow, developed a hierarchical theory of human motivation (Maslow, A. H., 1943). In 1946, Carl Rogers publishes, Significant aspects of client-centered therapy, which is also known as person centered therapy (Rogers, C. R., 1946). Two meetings were held in Detroit among psychologists who were interested in founding a professional association dedicated to a more meaningful, more humanistic vision. These meeting took place in 1957 and 1958, at the invitation of Abraham Maslow and Clark Moustakas (McLead, 2007, para. 17). In 1962, with the sponsorship of Brandeis University, this movement was formally launched as the Association for Humanistic Psychology ("Early Innovators," 2014, p. 17). The first issue of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology appeared in the Spring of 1961(McLead, 2007, para. 19).

Movie: Gimme Shelter
Gimme shelter brought awareness to the fact that many children in the foster systems mental health needs are not being met. They are often moved from home to home without a follow up treatment plan. This in turn can lead to further trauma.
In doing research it was found that studies also suggest that of the 40% of youth in foster care, up to about 80% of these children exhibit a serious behavioral or mental health problem requiring intervention (Pecora, P. J., Jensen, P. S., Romanelli, L. H., Jackson, L. J., & Ortiz, A. 2009 para. 2). Many of the children mental health needs are never met and the trauma is carried into adult hood. It was also noted by The National Study of Children of Adolescence Well Being that three out four children who came to the attention of the child welfare systems due to abuse or neglect investigation who had clear clinical impairment had not received any mental health care within 12 months after the investigation (Stahmer AC, Leslie LK, Hurlburt M, Barth RP, Webb MB, Landsverk J, Zhang J., 2005). These statics are sad truth about our social welfare system for children in foster care.
However, this movie has not put a thought of discouragement but a thought of advocacy in motion for person like myself who are involved in The foster Children Right Collation.