'With Elian, it looks like regardless of who he was with, he felt loved, and I'm guessing he'll get over this just fine,' said Jeffrey A. Schaler, a developmental psychologist in Silver Spring, Md.

The relative strength of the boy's ego will make a major difference in determining his chances of becoming a well-adjusted adult, Schaler said. 'A person with a strong sense of self does much better with a traumatic issue like that. Bad memories will not have a destructive effect on them," he said. "Someone who feels unloved, betrayed and unsafe would tend to have a bad effect from a bad experience.

'Everybody loved this kid," Schaler said. 'It's important to remember that.'" (The Orlando Sentinel, June 29, 2000)

"The contrasting conclusions show that psychiatry can be inexact, said Jeffrey Schaler, a developmental child psychologist in Silver Spring, Md.

'My own feeling is that Elian does belong with his father,' said Schaler, who has not examined the boy. 'I agree that it's good for him to have time alone with his father. I think that if he has contact alone with the [Miami) relatives, it will be confusing and traumatic for him.'"

'If they truly care about Elian's well-being they should leave him alone,' Schaler said." (Orlando Sentinel Tribune, April 27, 2000)

"'The mental health professionals are acting as agents of each side.'" Schaler on the Elian Gonzales controversy (Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 27, 2000)