NCJ Number
66054
Editor(s)
E CORFMAN
Date Published
1979
Length
84 pages
Annotation
THREE PAPERS ON FAMILY VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE FOCUS ON PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES, CHILD ABUSE RESEARCH, AND TREATMENT APPROACHES FOR ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Abstract
ONE PAPER PRESENTS THE FINDINGS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY ON FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES BASED ON DATA GATHERED IN 1975. RESULTS REVEAL THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN BY PARENTS AND BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES. DURING THE SURVEY YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 1.7 MILLION CHILDREN SUFFERED FROM VARYING DEGREES OF PARENTAL ABUSE. MOREOVER, THE INCIDENCES OF SEVERE ABUSE ARE MUCH LARGER THAN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AND ARE PROBABLY HIGHER THAN THE SURVEY FINDINGS BECAUSE FAMILY VIOLENCE SEEMS TO BE ACCEPTED AS A CULTURAL NORM, PARTICULARLY IN THE FORM OF WIFE ABUSE. IF THE SURVEY'S FINDINGS ARE GENERALIZED TO ALL U.S. COUPLES, THEY INDICATE THAT APPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILLION WIVES ARE SEVERELY ATTACKED BY THEIR HUSBANDS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. ALTHOUGH VIOLENCE BY WIVES AGAINST HUSBANDS ALSO APPEARED IN THE SURVEY'S FINDINGS, SUCH VIOLENCE IS LESS SIGNIFICANT THAN WIFE ABUSE. THEORIES OF VIOLENCE AND STRATEGIES FOR ITS ELIMINATION ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. ANOTHER PAPER DISCUSSES THE HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE AND CLINICAL AND SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT. CLINICIAL OBSERVATIONS AND STUDIES CITED IN THE PAPER POINT OUT THE FATE OF ABUSED CHILDREN, CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSE, THEIR SEXUAL PROBLEMS, THEIR TENDENCY TOWARD VIOLENCE AS PARENTS, AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES. A THIRD PAPER DESCRIBES TREATMENT APPROACHES TO CHILD ABUSE AND DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES. FAMILY THERAPY INCLUDES WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS AND PARENT-AIDE PROGRAMS. TYPOLOGIES OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF 'NONACCIDENTAL INJURY' AND VICTIMS OF 'FAILURE-TO-THRIVE' ARE OUTLINED SO THAT SUCH FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE APPROPRIATE THERAPY AND CHILD PLACEMENT DECISIONS CAN BE MORE EASILY MADE. REFERENCES ACCOMPANY EACH RESEARCH PAPER. (WJR)