A review of the literature was conducted relevant to the history of wife battering, the incidence of such abuse in the United States, and difficulties in the definition of domestic violence. Major attempts to explain wife battering found in the literature included a focus on: (1) personality factors of the individuals involved (the ontogenic…

This paper begins by reviewing literature relevant to the history of children of battered women and difficulties in defining domestic violence. Major attempts to explain the behavioral profile of children of battered women include issues related to family characteristics and patterns; effects of family violence on children; links between marital…

This report reviews studies investigating both the characteristics of abusive families and the efficacy of treatment interventions for abusive parents. The investigation emphasizes variables such as the individual characteristics of the parent, individual characteristics of the child, and family patterns that are related to child abuse. Particular…

This paper is a review of current research on the effects of children's exposure to domestic violence in the home in regard to their psychological well-being. Specific areas of focus include studies that examine general effects of witnessing domestic violence, the presence of trauma-like and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, potential…

This document investigates both immediate and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse in order to help counselors identify victims and survivors. It is based on a search of the literature on child sexual abuse in the ALICE system in the Alden Library at Ohio University, and the Psychological Literature and Social Sciences Index. Key words used…