NCJ Number
66055
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
RESULTS FROM THE FIRST SURVEY OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE U.S. ARE DISCUSSED AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
DURING THE YEAR OF THE SURVEY, 1975, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 1.7 MILLION AMERICAN CHILDREN (OUT OF 46 MILLION FROM AGES 3 TO 17 LIVING WITH BOTH PARENTS WERE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT ACTS BY PARENTS. OVER A 1-YEAR PERIOD, 6,000 PARENTS OUT OF 100,000 USED SERIOUS VIOLENCE ON EACH OTHER. WHEN THERE WAS FIGHTING AMONG THE PARENTS, THERE WAS MORE LIKELY TO BE FIGHTING AMONG CHILDREN AND AGGRESSION BY THE CHILDREN AGAINST THE PARENTS. TO MEASURE FAMILY VIOLENCE, A CONFLICT TACTICS SCALE (CTS) WAS DEVELOPED. THE STUDY PRODUCED 21,143 COMPLETED INTERVIEWS WITH ADULTS, HALF OF WHOM WERE HUSBANDS AND HALF OF WHOM WERE WIVES. THE INCIDENCE OF SEVERE ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN WAS MUCH LARGER THAN ESTIMATED BY THE U.S. NATIONAL CENTER ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. FINDINGS ALSO SHOWED THAT CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN HIT GROW UP TO HIT THEIR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN, YOUNGER CHILDREN ARE MORE OFTEN ABUSED, AND LOWER CLASS INCOME GROUPS ARE MORE PRONE TO VIOLENCE. FACTORS WHICH LEAD TO FAMILY VIOLENCE INCLUDE ISOLATION OF THE FAMILY FROM OTHERS, LOW INCOME, PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. VIOLENCE IS SEEN AS AN OUTCOME OR EXPRESSION OF SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS. SPECIFIC IDEAS ARE PRESENTED ON HOW TO AVOID VIOLENCE SUCH AS THE RECOGNITION IN A FAMILY THAT CONFLICT IS A PART OF LIFE, INCLUDING FAMILY LIFE; THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING AND CONFRONTING SITUATIONS BY DISCUSSING ISSUES, THE NEED TO FORESTALL OR ELIMINATE PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT; AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ALTERING THE SEXIST STRUCTURE OF THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE NOTED. (MJW)