NCJ Number
35907
Date Published
1972
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM DISCUSSES THE CAUSES OF, SYMPTOMS AND REMEDIES FOR CHILD ABUSE.
Abstract
THE COINER OF THE TERM, 'BATTERED CHILD', DR. KEMPE, STATES THAT CHILD ABUSERS ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM ORDINARY PARENTS OR ADULTS. HE SAYS LOVE AND HATE ARE UNIVERSAL FEELINGS, YET MOST PARENTS DO NOT ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN. WHAT CAUSES AN ADULT TO STEP ACROSS THE LINE AND BECOME A CHILD ABUSER? DR. KEMPE BELIEVES IT IS USUALLY A COMBINATION OF FACTORS: 1. THE ADULT MUST BE ONE CAPABLE OF SUCH ACTIONS. THIS PERSON IS USUALLY MARRIED TO SOMEONE WITH THE SAME LACK OF CONTROL OVER ABUSIVE EMOTIONS. 2. A CRISIS MUST ARISE IN WHICH THE ADULT VIEWS THE CHILD AS BEING 'BAD'. 3. THE ADULT MUST FEEL THERE IS NO WAY TO GET RELIEF OR TO ESCAPE THE CRISIS. AS A RESULT, THE CHILD RECEIVES THE BRUNT OF THE ADULT'S ANGER, FEAR, OR HYSTERIA. AS THE CAMERA SCANS TREATMENT MODALITIES SUCH AS PARENTS ANONYMOUS AND GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS, THE MEMBERS - ALL OF WHOM HAVE BEEN CHILD ABUSERS - REVEAL THEIR EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS. MOST HAVE EXPERIENCED FEELINGS OF REJECTION, SELF-HATRED, DEPRESSION, AND LONELINESS. TERRIFIED AND TRAPPED BY THEIR FEELINGS, THESE ADULTS RESORTED TO VIOLENT AND FRANTIC REACTIONS. CHILDREN IN PERIL ALSO DISCUSSES LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE. ALTHOUGH THE LAWS ARE FAIRLY ADEQUATE, PROSECUTION IS COMPLICATED AND INVOLVED. MANY PHYSICIANS, REALIZING THERE IS NO ADEQUATE REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR CHILD-ABUSE CASES, OFTEN IGNORE THE LAW AND DO NOT REPORT SUCH CASES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)