NCJ Number
37821
Date Published
1976
Length
288 pages
Annotation
INTENDED FOR BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS, THIS TEXT EXAMINES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABUSING FAMILY, THE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE, AND METHODS OF REHABILITATING THE ABUSING PARENT.
Abstract
THE TEXT OPENS WITH A DISCUSSION OF HOW ABUSING FAMILIES DIFFER FROM NONABUSING ONES IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF CHANGE THAT CHARACTERIZES THEIR LIVES. THE AUTHORS PRESENT FINDINGS ON THE ROLE THAT MULTIPLE 'LIFE CHANGE EVENTS' PLAY AS A PREDISPOSING FACTOR IN ABUSE AS WELL AS HOW THE KEY CONCEPT OF SYMBIOSIS CAN BE USED TO EXPLAIN BOTH THE EXCESSIVE CHANGE AND THE ABUSE THAT FOLLOWS. AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT IDEAS AND THEORIES ON THE CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE IS THEN PRESENTED. SEVEN MODELS ARE DESCRIBED, RANGING FROM THE PSYCHODYNAMIC MODEL TO THE MENTAL ILLNESS MODEL. A MODEL DEVELOPED BY THE AUTHORS IS ALSO DESCRIBED. THIS MODEL EMPHASIZES THE FAMILY AS A SYSTEM AND CHILD ABUSE AS A PRODUCT OF FAMILY INTERACTION, INFLUENCED BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL FORCES. THE GROUP THERAPY INTERVENTIONS AND TECHNIQUES, AND THE GOAL SETTING AND EVALUATION MEASURES USED BY THE AUTHORS ARE DESCRIBED AS WELL. FINALLY, THE TEXT SUMMARIZES APPROACHES TO SECONDARY PREVENTION AND OUTLINES PROPOSALS FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THESE RANGE FROM FAR-REACHING PROGRAMS THAT GO BEYOND THE CHILD ABUSE PROBLEM TO THOSE THAT FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING AND HELPING HIGH-RISK PARENTS AND CHILDREN BEFORE ABUSE OCCURS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)