NCJ Number
53272
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN DEFINING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, VARIOUS CONDITIONS SEEN AS 'CAUSES,' AND SOME OF THE INTERVENTIONS PROPOSED BY VARIOUS RESEARCHERS ARE ALL BRIEFLY REVIEWED.
Abstract
THE FIRST SECTION OF THE OVERVIEW EXAMINES SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN DEFINING CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE: THE BORDERLINE CASES OF NEGLECT, THE OVERLY HARSH DISCIPLINE WHICH IS COMMONLY FOUND IN SELF-REPORTS, THE PARENTS WHO DO NOT 'CHILD-PROOF' THEIR HOMES. BECAUSE THE DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE UNCLEAR, THE STATISTICS IN THESE AREAS ARE ALSO IN DOUBT. OFFICIAL STATISTICS CONCENTRATE ABUSE CASES AMONG POOR AND MINORITY FAMILIES WHILE STUDIES USING SELF-REPORTING FORMS FIND BOTH NEGLECT AND ABUSE SPREAD OVER ALL INCOME RANGES. POSSIBLE CAUSES ARE ECONOMIC, FAMILIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND INAPPROPRIATE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS. EACH OF THESE IS DISCUSSED. TREATMENTS GENERALLY FOCUS ON THE THEORY THAT THE ABUSER IS 'SICK.' CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS, WELFARE STRATEGIES, PSYCHOTHERAPY, AND SELF-HELP GROUPS ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. TWO SUGGESTIONS FOR PREVENTING ABUSE--PARENTING TESTS AND COURSES ON PARENTING IN SCHOOLS--HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SOCIAL BIAS INHERENT IN SUCH STRATEGIES. THE SECTION ON LEGAL ISSUES DISCUSSES THE CONFLICTING PHILOSOPHIES SURROUNDING CHILD ABUSE--THE INTEGRITY OF THE FAMILY VERSUS THE NEED FOR STRONG SOCIAL INTERVENTION ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD. THE HANDLING OF CHILD ABUSE AS A CIVIL RATHER THAN A CRIMINAL MATTER IS DISCUSSED. REPORTING STATUTES, NEGLECT PETITIONS, AND THE CURRENT CONFUSED STATUS OF STATE LAWS ON CHILD ABUSE ARE ALSO REVIEWED. (GLR)