Interactional Assessment: Evaluation of Parent-Child Relationships in Abuse and Neglect (From The New Child Protection Team Handbook, P 181-198, 1988, Donald C Bross, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-115142)

• NCJ Number: 115149
• Author(s): C F Haynes-Seman; J S Hart
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: Garland Publishing, Inc.
• Publication Type: Training (Aid/Material)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper describes a videotaped assessment procedure for evaluating parent-child relationships in cases of alleged abuse and neglect.

Abstract

The interview with the parents is conducted in the presence of the children, and the entire session is videotaped for subsequent review and transcription. The videotaped record allows unlimited review of interactions and transcription of the entire session. The transcribed record includes the parents' responses to specific interview questions, the children's behaviors toward the adults, and the parents' behaviors toward the children in various interactive contexts during the session. Recurrent themes and repetitive patterns of interaction may not only show the nature of the parents' relationship with each child but also the nature of the parents' own relationship with their parents, unresolved psychological conflicts, and current social problems affecting parenting capacity. The interviewer uses open-ended questions. The protocol includes eight major areas of inquiry: parents' view of allegations of maltreatment, feeding experiences from newborn to the present, prior illnesses or accidents, prenatal and newborn experiences, present experiences with the infant, lifestyle issues, parents' memories of their childhood experiences, and present life satisfaction. A case study is used to show the clinical analysis of the videotaped session. 15 references.