PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE

• NCJ Number: 29994
• Journal: American Psychologist Volume: 30 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1975) Pages: 921-928
• Author(s): K T ALVY
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT PAPER PRESENTED TO AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, NEW ORLEANS, SEPT 1974

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE IDENTIFIES THOSE ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES DIRECTED TOWARD CHILDREN THAT SOCIETY CONSIDERS TO BE ABUSIVE AND DISCUSSES TYPES OF LEGAL AND SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS TAKEN BY SOCIETY TO ERADICATE THE PROBLEM.

Abstract

THE FIRST PART OF THIS ARTICLE IS CONCERNED WITH TWO MAJOR AND GENERAL APPROACHES TO ANALYZING THE PROBLEM: (A) THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, WHICH DEFINES CHILD ABUSE AS BEING COLLECTIVE, INSTITUTIONAL, AND INDIVIDUAL IN NATURE; AND (B) THE NARROW APPROACH, WHICH CONSIDERS ONLY INDIVIDUAL ABUSE. A SHORT SECTION FOLLOWS ON THE PREVENTION IMPLICATIONS OF THESE APPROACHES. AN EXTENDED DISCUSSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PHYSICAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN THEN OCCURS, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEORETICAL FORMULATIONS OF THE CAUSES OF INDIVIDUAL PHYSICAL ABUSE AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR PREVENTING PHYSICAL ABUSE. FINALLY, THE SUCCESSFUL REINFORCEMENT OF THESE PROGRAMS IS DISCUSSED AS A STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF RAISING PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT ALL FORMS OF INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS INSTITUTIONAL AND COLLECTIVE ABUSE. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)