NCJ Number
147604
Journal
Behavioral Sciences and the Law Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1994) Pages: 35-48
Date Published
1994
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study expanded the discussion on definitions of child abuse by examining children's perceptions of physical abuse.
Abstract
This was done by collecting data to document abused children's ratings of the seriousness of various abusive acts and to begin to examine gender and age differences in children's perceptions. The data showed significant differences in children's perceptions of the seriousness of specific acts of abuse and a significant interaction between age and type of abuse. Although young children generally produced lower seriousness ratings than older children, their ratings were significantly lower on only a few types of abuse. When children's ratings were compared to similar ratings reported in earlier studies of adolescents, community members, and mental health professionals, the children in this study rated the abusive acts as less serious than the adolescents or community members, but similar to the professionals who work in the area of child abuse and neglect. Implications of these findings for various legal and social contexts are discussed. 1 figure, 2 tables and 41 references