NCJ Number
54712
Journal
Public Welfare Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (FALL 1978) Pages: 14-21
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT ADDRESSES THE EXTENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO PREVENT A FAMILY FROM BEING ABUSIVE, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSIVE PARENTS.
Abstract
MISTRUST OF PARENTS BY CHILDREN IS EXTENDED TO OTHERS AND CHILDREN GROW UP ISOLATING THEMSELVES. FEELINGS OF WORTHLESSNESS INFLUENCE THE KINDS OF FRIENDS CHILDREN MAKE, IF ANY, AND PARTNERS THEY SELECT FOR MARRIAGE. PARENTS OFTEN ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF FRUSTRATION AND ANGER RESULTING FROM A LIFE PATTERN OF UNSATISFIED NEEDS. THE BASIC PROBLEM OF SPOUSES COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER AND THEN TURNING TO CHILDREN FOR NURTURING IS CALLED SYMBIOSIS. ABUSING PARENTS TAKE THE NEED TO BELONG AND CARRY IT TO THE EXTREME BY CRITIZING EACH OTHER AND THEIR CHILDREN. CHILD ABUSE, THEN, IS FREQUENTLY A PROBLEM OF OVERINVOLVEMENT. IT IS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF CHILD NEGLECT WHERE PARENTS HAVE TOO LITTLE INVESTMENT IN THEIR CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH THE CENTRAL PROBLEM IN ABUSING FAMILIES IS SYMBIOSIS, OTHER PRECIPITATING FACTORS ARE ISOLATION, MARITAL CONFLICT, TEMPER (TENSION OR IMPATIENCE), LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CHILD MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND THE FEELING OF FRUSTRATION EXPERIENCED BY A HOMEBOUND MOTHER. THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES TO INTERVENE IN CASES OF CHILD ABUSE INVOLVE GROUP THERAPY WITH ABUSIVE PARENTS, SETTING GOALS AND MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS, AND THE USE OF GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALING. THE PROBLEM OF PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT TOUCHES ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY SEE FIT. WAYS OF PREVENTING ABUSE INCLUDE COMPULSORY PARENT TRAINING AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL PARENTS CONCEPT (PERSONS WHO ARE EQUIPPED BY UPBRINGING AND TRAINING TO GIVE CHILDREN THE NURTURING, CARE, AND NONPHYSICAL DISCIPLINE THEY NEED). NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)