NCJ Number
45638
Journal
Journal of Clinical Child Psychology Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 32-35
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF TRADITIONAL CHILD ABUSE CAUSES AND INTERVENTION THEORIES, AN INTERACTIONAL FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH AND ITS THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE TWO MAJOR TRADITIONAL THEORIES OF THE ETIOLOGY OF CHILD ABUSE ARE THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL THEORY, WHICH VIEWS THE CHILD ABUSER AS MALADJUSTED AND CHILD ABUSE AS A PROJECTION OF PARENTAL SELF-HATE, AND THE SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL MODEL, WHICH VIEWS CHILD ABUSE AS A REACTION TO MULTIPLE SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL/ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND STRESSORS. DIRECT SERVICES TO PARENTS BASED ON THESE MODELS HAVE INCLUDED INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP THEORY, SELF-HELP GROUPS, ADVOCACY SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISM AID AND EDUCATION. DIRECT SERVICES TO CHILDREN HAVE GENERALLY INVOLVED MEDICAL TREATMENT OF INJURIES, OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT, PLAY THERAPY,AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. A FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH, HOWEVER, SEES CHILD ABUSE AS PART OF A PATTERN OF RELATIONSHIPS AND RECIPROCAL TRANSACTIONS AMONG THE PARENT, CHILD, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS IN WHICH ALL PARTIES PLAY AN ACTIVE PART. FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, EACH FAMILY MEMBER'S BEHAVIOR REFLECTS AND IS PATTERNED BY THE PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORS OF OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. STUDIES OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND MOTHER/INFANT INTERACTIONS HAVE PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THIS RECIPROCAL INTERACTIONAL SYSTEM AND LEND CREDENCE TO THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE CHILD MAY INVITE OR ACTUALLY INITIATE THE ABUSIVE SITUATION. A FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH TO INTERVENTION DEALS WITH DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS EITHER WITH THE FAMILY AS A GROUP OR WITH INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS. SUCH INTERVENTION MAY INVOLVE PARENT/CHILD PLAY THERAPY OR TRAINING IN PARENTING AND IMPULSE CONTROL. A COMPREHENSIVE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN AT HIGH RISK OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT INVOLVES A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF PARENT/CHILD INTERACTIONS AND FUNCTIONING PATTERNS, STRESSORS, AND PERSONALITY/BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS DURING INTAKE. STAFF AND PARENTS THEN WORK TOGETHER IN THE FORMULATION OF A THERAPEUTIC PLAN DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF EACH FAMILY MEMBER. SUCH PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE FAMILY ACTIVITIES, FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, MODELING, FEEDBACK EXPERIMENTATION, AND DISCUSSION. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON INCREASNG PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, IMPROVING SELF-CONCEPT, AND THE ACQUISITION OF PARENTING SKILLS, WHILE THE CHILD IS INTENSIVELY WORKED WITH IN THE CLASSROOM (JAP)