NCJ Number
46619
Date Published
1976
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER, WRITTEN BY A PSYCHIATRIST, DESCRIBES THE TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN OR SPOUSES AND WHAT LEADS THEM TO VENT THEIR AGGRESSION WITHIN THE FAMILY.
Abstract
STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN THAT, IN ENGLAND, ACCIDENTS, MURDER, AND VIOLENCE ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR AT HOME THAN ON THE STREETS WITH A STRANGER. ABOUT 4,600 CHILDREN ARE PHYSICALLY ABUSED EACH YEAR, TO THE EXTENT THAT 700 DIE AND 400 ARE LEFT WITH PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE. EXTREME VIOLENCE MORE OFTEN INVOLVES THE MALE GUARDIAN THAN THE FEMALE. ONE STUDY OF MEN ACCUSED OF KILLING A CHILD UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE SHOWED THAT MANY HAD A HIGH PREVALENCE OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR OR MENTAL ILLNESS IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES, ALMOST ALL EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THEMSELVES AND IN COPING WITH STRESS, AND MANY HAD A PREVIOUS HISTORY OF VIOLENT CRIME. ALL BLAMED THE IMMEDIATE PRECIPITATION OF THE ATTACK ON THE CHILD. A MAJOR STUDY BY THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN OF THE FAMILIES OF 78 SEVERELY BATTERED CHILDREN FOUND THAT 56 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN WERE UNDER 1 YEAR OLD; THE VIOLENCE OFTEN BEGAN WITH A MINOR INJURY; THE PARENTS WERE YOUNG, TENDED TO HAVE LONG-STANDING EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES, AND HAD SMALL FAMILIES, OFTEN WITH PREGNANCIES CLOSE TOGETHER; THERE WAS A HIGH LEVEL OF PREVIOUS VIOLENCE; OFTEN THE FAMILIES WERE HIGHLY MOBILE; AND MANY OF THE MOTHERS WERE RIGID AND OVERCONTROLLING. THREE OUT OF EVERY FIVE CHILDREN RETURNED HOME AFTER TREATMENT FOR AN INJURY WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REINJURED. ANOTHER STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT MARITAL DISHARMONY, POOR USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES, POOR HOUSING, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION WITH LACK OF KINSHIP SUPPORTS CHARACTERIZE MANY BATTERING PARENTS. THE MOST COMMON GROUP SEEN IN CLINICAL PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE ARE YOUNG WOMEN, WHO, THEMSELVES, HAVE SUFFERED FROM DEPRIVATION, LACK OF LOVE, AND PHYSICAL ABUSE DURING THEIR CHILDHOOD. THEY EMERGE WITH IMMATURE, UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR CHILD AND ARE DISTRESSED WHEN THE INFANT DOES NOT LIVE UP TO THEM. WHILE THESE ARE THE MOST COMMON PATTERNS, A WIDE RANGE OF SITUATIONS EXIST, INCLUDING: (1) VULNERABLE YOUNG WOMEN UNDER STRESS WHO ARE IMMATURE, UNSUPPORTED, AND DISAPPOINTED IN MOTHERHOOD; (2) PARENTS WITH MARKED HYSTERICAL TRAITS; (3) PARENTS WITH DIFFICULTIES IN IMPULSE CONTROL, WHO DISPLAY EXPLOSIVE VIOLENCE; (4) DISORGANIZED PROBLEM FAMILIES IN WHOM VIOLENCE PERVADES EVERY ASPECT OF FAMILY LIFE; (5) THOSE (FEW) WHO SHOW FRANK SADISTIC CRUELTY; AND (6) PARENTS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MENTAL SUBNORMALITY OR PSYCHOSIS. ANOTHER FORM OF ABUSE WITHIN THE FAMILY IS INCEST. THE MOST COMMON TYPE IS FATHER-DAUGHTER. THE FATHERS ARE TYPICALLY HABITUALLY UNEMPLOYED, POORLY EDUCATED, AND FROM BROKEN HOMES. MANY SEXUALLY ABUSED DAUGHTERS DEVELOP CHARACTER DISORDERS LATER IN LIFE. FINALLY, A CONSIDERATION OF HUSBANDS WHO ABUSE THEIR WIVES SHOWS THEM TO EXHIBIT MANY OF THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS BATTERING PARENTS -- IMMATURE ATTITUDES, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, AND AN EARLY MARRIAGE. ATTACKS ON THE CHILDREN OFTEN ACCOMPANY THE BEATING OF THE WIFE. DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND JEALOUSLY ARE OTHER FACTORS WHICH MAY PRECIPITATE FAMILY VIOLENCE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (VDA)