NCJ Number
60831
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
FAMILY VIOLENCE IS ATTRIBUTED TO FAMILY STRESS CAUSED BY FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS AS DISCUSSED IN THIS AUDIOCASSETTE AND FILM STRIP UNIT FOR TEACHERS.
Abstract
AS NEVER BEFORE, FAMILY PRESSURE CAN LEAD TO THE REAL DANGER OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. THE FAMILY IS THE ONE HUMAN INSTITUTION THAT IS COMPELLED TO CHANGE THROUGHOUT ITS EXISTENCE, AS RELATIONSHIPS CHANGE BETWEEN SPOUSES, PARENTS, AND CHILDREN. STRESS SITUATIONS, ARISING EVEN FROM JOYFUL OCCASIONS, SUCH AS THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, CAN TRIGGER FAMILY VIOLENCE. THE APPARENT ROOTLESSNESS OF MANY FAMILIES AND THE OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF MOBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FAMILY'S DIFFICULTIES IN MAINTAINING A COHESIVE UNIT. RAMPANT MATERIALISM WITH ITS ECONOMIC PRESSURES AND CHANGES IN RELIGIOUS AND MORAL VALUES FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE MULTIGENERATION EXTENDED FAMILY WHOSE COMBINED EXPERIENCES TRADITIONALLY CUSHIONED MANY FAMILY PROBLEMS. IN THE TWO-GENERATION NUCLEAR FAMILY OF RECENT YEARS, THE INTENSE PRESSURES CONTRIBUTE TO THE PHENOMENON OF RUNAWAY WIVES WHOSE NUMBERS ALMOST EQUAL THOSE OF RUNAWAY HUSBANDS. NINE MILLION SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES NOW EXIST, AND 10 PERCENT OF ALL ADOLESCENTS HAVE SEVERE MENTAL DISORDERS. THE STATISTICS ON FAMILY VIOLENCE ARE NOT COMPLETE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE AND REPORT THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CURRENTLY AFFECTS MILLIONS OF YOUNGSTERS. ADDITIONAL MANIFESTATIONS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE INCLUDE WIFE BEATING, HUSBAND BEATING, AND THE ASSAULT BY OLDER CHILDREN ON THEIR ELDERLY PARENTS. (TWK).