NCJ Number
46195
Journal
Victimology Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 285-293
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
CASE HISTORIES OF ABUSING PARENTS ARE PRESENTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR A CHANGE FROM RELIANCE ON PLACEMENT OF ABUSED CHILDREN TO AN EMPHASIS ON PROVISION OF PSYCHIATRIC AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES.
Abstract
MANY ABUSING PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES ARE ULTIMATELY REINVOLVED IN MISTREATING CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR WHEN THEY BECOME NEW PARENTS. THUS THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED SIMPLY BY TEMPORARILY REMOVING THE CHILD FROM THE FAMILY. A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. APPROXIMATELY 40 FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN THIS OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM, WHICH CONSISTS OF CRISIS INTERVENTION, PSYCHOTHERAPY, COUNSELING, SOCIAL SERVICE INPUT, PARENT GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY, A VISITING STUDENT NURSE PROGRAM, AND PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF THE CHILDREN WHEN APPROPRIATE. MANY OF THESE FAMILIES WERE OBSERVED TO DISCOVER THE EXPERIENCES OF PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PLACED, OR WHO WERE THREATENED WITH THE THE REMOVAL OF THEIR CHILDREN. PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE TAKEN FROM THEM INITIALLY RESPOND TO THE PROCESS WITH ANGER AND FRUSTRATION. THE PROCEEDINGS ADD TO THE LIFELONG HUMILIATION THEY VERY LIKELY HAVE EXPERIENCED AT THE HANDS OF THEIR OWN PARENTS. REMOVAL OF THE CHILD ALSO CONSTITUTES A MAJOR OBJECT LOSS FOR THESE PARENTS. STUDIES OF ABUSING PARENTS HAVE SHOWN A STRONG DEPENDENCY ON THE VERY CHILDREN THEY ASSAULT AND HUMILIATE, AND THE LOSS IS A MAJOR PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA FOR THEM, A FACT WHICH IS SELDOM RECOGNIZED BY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. THE FOLLOWING REACTIONS TO THE REMOVAL OF A CHILD FROM THE FAMILY HAVE OFTEN BEEN OBSERVED: (1) DEPRESSIVE REACTION, WHICH STEMS FROM GRIEF OVER THE LOSS, REALIZATION OF FAILURE AS A PARENT, AND THE INTERNALIZATION OF ANGER WHICH CAN NO LONGER BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE CHILD; (2) SEARCH FOR A NEW SCAPEGOAT -- THE PARENT'S FRAGILE SELF-ESTEEM HAS BEEN INJURED, AND ANY CHILD REMAINING IN THE HOME IS VULNERABLE TO THE VENTING OF THIS FRUSTRATION; (3) INCREASED CONFLICT WITH ONE'S SPOUSE -- THE ABUSER DISPLACES ANGER TO THE SPOUSE, AND THE NONABUSER BLAMES THE OTHER FOR THE LOSS OF THE CHILD; AND (4) PREGNANCY -- AN UNCONSCIOUS NEED TO HAVE A BABY COMES FROM A NEED TO REPLACE THE LOST CHILD, AND THE NEW CHILD OFTEN BECOMES AN OBJECT OF FURTHER ABUSE. THE EVENTUAL REUNION OF THE ABUSED CHILD AND THE NATURAL PARENTS IS VERY DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY IF THE CHILD HAS BEEN AWAY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATTACHMENT BEHAVIOR (BETWEEN 6 AND 18 MONTHS). THE CHILD IS MORE ATTACHED TO THE FOSTER PARENTS AND FEELS A LOSS WHEN REUNITED WITH THE NATURAL PARENTS. THE CHILD MAY WITHDRAW AFFECTION AND EXHIBIT PROVOCATIVE BEHAVIOR, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A RENEWAL OF THE CYCLE OF ABUSE. THREE CASE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE PRESENTED WHICH DEMONSTRATE THE PHENOMENA DESCRIBED. (VDA)