NCJ Number
55468
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ROOTS OF AGGRESSION AGAINST CHILDREN ARE REVIEWED, AND THE PROCESSES WHICH LEAD TO THE ESCALATION OF THESE AGGRESSIVE FEELINGS ARE TRACED. NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF REPORTING LAWS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE PROTRACTED HELPLESSNESS AND DEPENDENCY OF THE YOUNG CHILD SETS UP A CHAIN OF TENSION BETWEEN ADULT AND CHILD WHICH CAN BE BROKEN BY NEGLECT OR BY THE ESCALATION OF AGGRESSIVE FEELINGS INTO ACTIVE ABUSE. THE ENTIRE GROWING-UP PROCESS IS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF LEARNING TO CONTROL INNATE DRIVES OF AGGRESSIVENESS AND FRUSTRATION. AGGRESSION IS SEEN BY PSYCHOLOGISTS AS HEALTHY WHEN IT IS CHANNELED. IT PROVIDES THE DETERMINATION WHICH IS THE BASIS FOR SUCCESS IN WORK. AGGRESSIVENESS WHICH IS NOT BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, HOWEVER, ERUPTS INTO VIOLENCE. THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN DEALING WITH VIOLENCE ARE DESCRIBED. THE SOCIALLY ACCEPTED USE OF VIOLENCE AS A LAST RESORT TO TEACH AN AUTISTIC CHILD NOT TO MUTILATE HIMSELF IS CONTRASTED WITH ADOLESCENTS WHO HAD TO UNDERGO BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TRAINING TO LEARN TO BRING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR UNDER CONTROL. CHILD ABUSE OCCURS WITH ADULTS WHO NEVER LEARNED TO CONTROL THEIR AGGRESSIVE TENDENCIES. A COMPLICATING FACTOR IS THE ADULT'S PERCEPTION OF THE MEANING OF THE CHILD'S ACTIONS. THE CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAWS PASSED IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1950'S AND 1960'S ARE LESS THAN EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY POINT THE FINGER OF SHAME AT FAMILIES WITHOUT PROVIDING THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO HELP THE FAMILIES DEAL WITH PROBLEMS CAUSED BY VIOLENCE. THIS LACK OF SERVICE CAN LEAVE THE CHILD IN GREATER DANGER THAN BEFORE THE REPORTING OF SUSPECTED ABUSE WAS MADE. GREATER SERVICE FOR FAMILIES IS URGED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A SUMMARY OF THE INTERIM REPORT OF THE CANADIAN COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE IN TELEVISION AND REFERENCES. (GLR)