Who's a Naughty Boy Then? Accountability, Family Therapy, and the “Naughty” Child

The author explores the concept of the “naughty” child through a language-based approach to examine how it is employed in a family therapy context. Using discursive psychology, 22 hours of family therapy are investigated to examine how children with behavioral/ conduct problems are constructed within this institutional setting. The members of the interaction construct either the child or the behavior as naughty as a way to manage accountability and provide an assessment of the child. It is concluded that the concept manages accountability for the parents and the children. Discussions of implications for labeling and therapy are considered.