NCJ Number
56306
Date Published
1978
Length
21 pages
Annotation
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES IS PRESENTED IN THIS 1978 ARTICLE WHICH FOCUSES ON THE FINDINGS AND PROBLEMS FOUND IN RESEARCH INTO THIS AREA. EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON RESEARCH ARE STUDIED.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH CHILD ABUSE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE PILGRIMS ARRIVED IN PLYMOUTH, IT IS ONLY SINCE THE 1960'S THAT THE U.S. HAS BEGUN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ENCOUNTERS MAJOR OBSTACLES BECAUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC WITH TABOOS WHICH PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR. IN ADDITION, THE INTIMATE AND CLOSED INTERACTIONS OF FAMILIES MAKE THEM DIFFICULT TO STUDY BY OUTSIDERS. RESEARCH INTO THIS IS MADE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BY THE LACK OF AGREEMENT ON THE TERMS, DIFFICULTY IN FINDING SUBJECTS TO STUDY, AND LACK OF SENSITIVE DATA GATHERING INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES. RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITIES OF RHODE ISLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND DELAWARE HAVE BEGUN TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS IN THEIR STUDY OF A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 2,143 AMERICAN FAMILIES. SOME OF THEIR MAJOR FINDINGS SHOW THAT 63 PERCENT OF AMERICAN PARENTS WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 3 AND 17 MENTIONED AT LEAST ONE VIOLENT EPISODE DURING THE SURVEY YEAR. FURTHER WORK IS NEEDED, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT RESEARCH PROBLEMS. SUCH PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE LACK OF RESOURCES AND MONEY, PRESSURE TO SPEND MONEY ONLY ON SERVICES AS OPPOSED TO RESEARCH, AND HAPHAZARD RESEARCH PRIORITIES. SEVEN SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE CONCERNING CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT POLICIES INCLUDING CONSOLIDATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS ON CHILD, WIFE, AND HUSBAND ABUSE INTO ONE PROGRAM ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP).