NCJ Number
77715
Date Published
1981
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews research on the relationship between child abuse and delinquency and proposes a method of issue-oriented group therapy for abusers as a means of reducing juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
Although the relationship between child abuse and delinquency has been observed as a clinical phenomenon for many years, empirical research is lacking. The method of issue-oriented group therapy was developed for women who were hospitalized for the treatment of acute psychiatric disorders and who had marital problems as a primary symptom at the time of admission. The group was based on the assumption that marital problems were a result of role dysfunction, and the therapist and cotherapist used the concept of role conflict as a basic premise for treatment. Although child abuse was not a major emphasis, it was discovered that 70 percent of the women were child abusers. The therapy techniques used could also be focused on this problem. In general, the issue-oriented group was heterogeneous in composition, including women of various ages and backgrounds; ran continuously with periods of intermission (a 2-month period is suggested for child abusers); expected the therapist to actively support patients in their attempts to solve their problems by providing information in any area of family relations desired; and was flexible in that patients were under no constraint to attend. A male and a female therapist were always present to give patients the opportunity of dealing with healthy males and females. A 16-item reference list is included.