Lecture 6 on Abuse and Maltreatment
Defining Maltreatment
Prior to WWII, we had no concept of maltreatment; parents presume to know best
Cultural prevalence different cultural norms; different cultures have different points of
views
Cultures changes our perspectives
Cannot get a clear definition of neglect, physical abuse; sexual abuse; psychological abuse
ex. manipulation, psychological behavioural control; domestic violence (youth and parents)
Cultural reference points beating/spanking can be a criminal offense (ex. India, Sri Lanka)
o Some countries see giving a child his/her own room as neglect
Physical Abuse
Acts that result in actual or potential harm to the child, perpetrated by a caregiver who
could have the ability to perform the act
3% of the children are physically abused ; half are 7 years or younger, a quarter are 3 years
or younger
Seriously injured are more likely to be older children; infants might die from serious injuries
At greatest risk little boys and adolescent girls
White children are more likely to be abused than minority children
Most physically abused children are children with problems (parents struggle with their
misbehaviour)
Outcomes attachment problems, emotional problems, aggression, controlling emotions
(emotion discontrol), hostile attribution bias, abusing romantic partners and/or offsprings
Predictive factors poverty, individuals with lower income (with more children, more
stress), parent personality factors, aggressive tendency, individuals with poor preparation
for parenting, parents with their own set of cognitive distortion (may result in stable
internal traits), cultural contexts (what the society defines violence)
Stages of abuse
o Parents feeling stressed, and getting more and more of accepting the idea of using
violence (don’t have the strategy of dealing with the stress) where intervention
comes in
o Parents struggle to manage their crisis, may use harsher behaviours (they get angry
and anticipate to interact with the child) more direct intervention is needed (ex.
Triple P; to help the parents to cope)
o Persisting pattern of parents being emotional (intervention gets a lot more
challenging but not impossible)
o Once parents are actively abusing the child, the child is less likely to report
Neglect
Failure to provide physical health, emotional/mental health, education, nutrition, shelter, a
safe environment
It has to be in the caregiver's ability to provide, otherwise it would not be neglect
More common in babies and young children (they either receive intervention or they are
removed from home)
No gender differences
More common in minority children than in white children (due to SES)
Developmental course o Delays in developmental milestones (ex. language, walking, talking)
o Academic achievement (long term impact, academi
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