NCJ Number
57648
Date Published
1977
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE FAILURE OF CHILD ABUSE PROGRAMS TO DEAL WITH FAMILY SOCIAL ACTIONS, NEEDS, INTENTIONS, MOTIVES, AND EMOTIONS IS EXAMINED IN THIS PAPER.
Abstract
THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF CHILD ABUSE PROGRAMS STEMS FROM THE WAYS IN WHICH INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONS HAVE DEFINED THEIR GOALS. THIS STEMS, IN PART, FROM FAULTY UNDERSTANDING OF THE DYNAMICS OF CHILD ABUSE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OVERALL PARENTAL RELATIONS WITH CHILDREN. EVEN THE TRADITIONAL THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING OF PARENTAL RELATIONS WITH CHILDREN (AS A BIOLOGICAL ATTACHMENT OR BONDING BETWEEN THE MOTHER AND CHILD) FAILS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE BROADER DAY-TO-DAY REALITIES PARENTS MUST FACE. ANY REAL UNDERSTANDING OF PARENTAL BEHAVIOR MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE WAYS IN WHICH SOCIETY SHAPES AND TEACHES THE PARENTING EXPERIENCE. IN MODERN SOCIETIES IT IS DIFFICULT TO FEEL SUCCESSFUL AS A PARENT, AND THE CONFLICTING PRESSURES RESULT IN FEELINGS OF FRUSTRATION WHICH MAY BE DIRECTED AGAINST THE CHILDREN. IN VIEW OF THIS, THE TERM INJURY IS A MUCH MORE USEFUL TERM THAN CHILD ABUSE. HOWEVER, EVEN THIS TERM PRESENTS DIFFICULTIES IN THAT ANY CLASSIFICATION OF PARENTAL BEHAVIOR BASED ON INJURIES ALONE IS MISLEADING. SUCH A TERM OFFERS NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIETY OF SITUATIONS WHICH MAY LEAD A PARENT TO INJURE A CHILD, NOR DOES IT OFFER ANY CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHAT TYPES OF INJURIES DEMAND INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT. PREVENTION MUST BEGIN WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WARM PARENTAL PATTERNS IN THE HOSPITAL FOLLOWING A CHILD'S BIRTH. MOREOVER HOSPITALS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES MUST ADDRESS THE PRACTICAL INFORMATION NEEDS OF PARENTS IN ADDITION TO EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS. IF EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON HELPING PEOPLE BECOME GOOD PARENTS, THEN PERHAPS THE INCIDENCE OF NON-ACCIDENTAL INJURIES WILL DECLINE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP).