NCJ Number
51768
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF CHILD ABUSE, BASED LARGELY ON STUDIES OF THE INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE IN NORTHEAST WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSING PARENTS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF A NUMBER OF STUDIES CONDUCTED IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN GREAT BRITAIN. FOUR BEHAVIOR PATTERNS COMMONLY FOUND IN ABUSING PARENTS ARE NOTED: FREQUENT 'SMACKING' OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN; LACK OF DEMONSTRATIVENESS TOWARD CHILDREN; LACK OF CONCERN ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S WHEREABOUTS OR WELL-BEING; AND A TENDENCY TO DEMAND ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE FROM THE CHILDREN. THE NEED TO BALANCE A NONPUNITIVE, THERAPEUTIC ATTITUDE TOWARD BATTERING PARENTS WITH A WELL-PUBLICIZED UNDERSTANDING THAT ABUSE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IS POINTED OUT. STATISTICS FROM THE WILTSHIRE STUDY AND FROM OTHER BRITISH STUDIES ARE CITED IN A DISCUSSION OF THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE, THE FREQUENCY OF REPEATED ABUSE, AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILIES IN WHICH ABUSE OCCURS. AMONG THOSE CHARACTERISTICS ARE LARGE (AND RAPIDLY GROWING) FAMILY SIZE, MULTIPLE SOCIAL PROBLEMS, MULTIAGENCY INVOLVEMENT, AND COMPLEX FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS (BRIEF MARRIAGES, TRANSIENT COHABITATIONS, LARGE NUMBERS OF HALF-AND-STEP-SIBLINGS). A LIST OF 18 INJURIES AND CONDITIONS COMMONLY FOUND IN SEVERELY ABUSED CHILDREN FROM 60 WILTSHIRE FAMILIES IS PRESENTED. IT IS NOTED THAT, WHILE MOST RESEARCHERS AGREE THAT CHILD ABUSE IS A WIDESPREAD PHENOMENON, THERE IS DISAGREEMENT REGARDING ITS CAUSES AND THE TREATABILITY OF MOST ABUSIVE PARENTS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CORRECT TREATMENT FOR ILL-TREATED CHILDREN IN SEVERLY ABUSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL FAMILIES MAY MEAN FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION RATHER THAN ATTEMPTS TO 'REHABILITATE' THE FAMILY. SUPPORTING DATA FROM THE WILTSHIRE STUDY AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)