Describes the Child Abuse Potential Inventory and associated psychometric data. Discusses uses and misuses of the inventory, general test limitations, and screening instruments available to professionals concerned with child maltreatment. (RJC)

Using a multidisciplinary approach, victim, perpetrator, family, and incident variables in 32 cases of infanticide in U.S. Air Force families were examined. Findings were that 55% percent of infant-victims had physical trauma before the fatal incident, indicating physical abuse. The caretaker-perpetrator was usually male (84%), the biological…

The Child Abuse Potential Inventory significantly discriminated between abusers and nonabusers. The factors were distress, rigidity, child with problems, problems from family and others, unhappiness, loneliness, and negative concept of child and of self. Rigidity, unhappiness, and distress factors were most meaningful in understanding why some…

A study examined the responses of 89 physical child abusers and 108 comparison subjects to the Child Abuse Potential Inventory to determine whether the inventory's response inconsistency scale could be used for screening for physical child abuse. The scale was rejected as a reliable or valid measure. (Author/MSE)

A study of 10 high-risk (of child physical abuse) and 10 demographically similar low-risk Spanish mother-child dyads investigated interactional patterns in the home. High-risk mothers made fewer neutral approaches to their children, displayed more negative behaviors toward their children, and made more indiscriminate responses to their children's…

Empathic responsiveness and affective reactivity to infant stimuli were examined in matched groups of mothers (n=45) at either high or low risk for physical child abuse. Low-risk mothers showed an increase in empathy following presentation of a crying infant, whereas high-risk mothers showed no differences in empathy across infant conditions.…

A modified Conflict Tactics Scale and the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory were administered to three groups. The CAP abuse scores distinguished among physically abusive mothers with a childhood history of abuse and nonabusive mothers with and without a childhood history of abuse. Intergroup differences were exhibited in rigidity and…

Twenty male and 29 female active-duty Air Force personnel viewed and listened to videotapes of a crying infant and a smiling infant while heart rate, skin resistance, and respiration rate were monitored. Males showed a larger increase in skin conductance and heart rate than females during the crying infant stimulus. (Author/CR)

A study investigated the performance of high- and low-risk (for child abuse) mothers on cognitive measures in a cry (crying infant) and no-cry condition. High-risk mothers had lower conceptual ability, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving skills. The difficulty high-risk mothers have in using feedback to modify their behavior is discussed.…

Reviews assessment approaches used to evaluate child physical and sexual abuse offenders. Discusses interview and observational methods and problems. Reviews and critiques selected personality measures used to assess child abuse offenders. Reviews offender specific measures. Problems related to the lack of measure specificity and selectivity are…