This article is dedicated to find out the impact of social changes and their crisis manifestations on the dynamics of family relations, which is manifested in situations of child-parent interaction in the learning process, as well as to analyze the impact of social changes on manifestations of violence against children. A comparative analysis of…

Crime, abuse and violence against school children are grave problems in South African schools and are undisputedly on the increase. This article highlights aspects of hostile and violent behaviour in South Africa that contribute to the persistence of school violence. The problem is complex and there are no simple solutions. The article puts…

Under the guise of socialization, the child-subject born into the modern society is subjugated by a familial childhood trauma that appropriates the infantile psychosis caused by the incommunicability of early childhood. This appropriation, put to instrumental ends, results in a psychology of commodified object relations. In fact, there is a close…

This paper examines an education programme devised by the New Zealand educational theatre company, "Everyday Theatre," which offers a fictional representation of family abuse. The paper raises political questions about the dramatic representation of the family as a social system, and examines how the boundaries between private feelings…

Sierra Leone is only one of the more than 50 armed conflicts currently going on around the world. It is estimated that 20 million children were either refugees or displaced internally, and some 300,000 children under the age of 18 were used in hostilities at any given time as government or rebel soldiers, with about one-third reportedly fighting…

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this edition of "The State of the World's Children" calls for brave and fresh thinking to address age-old problems that still affect the world's most disadvantaged children. The report is inspired by the work of innovators around the world--who are pushing…

This report defines domestic violence as a method of maintaining control through the use of force. An historical perspective is presented which describes the many centuries during which men legally wielded absolute power over their wives and children, who were considered to be chattel of the husband. Different hypotheses suggest various causal…

Compares the rate of physical abuse of children and spouses from a 1975 study with rates from a 1985 replication. The 1985 rates were substantially lower than in 1975. Possible reasons for the lower rates are examined and evaluated. (Author/ABB)

Research in recent times has clearly demonstrated that violence is predictable and preventable; however, the primary prevention of abusive and violent behavior will not occur without personal, interpersonal, and social change. This article reviews the empirical research supporting hypotheses for primary prevention of many risks associated with…

This study compared the rate of physical abuse of children from a 1975 study with the rates from a 1985 replication study. Both studies used nationally representative samples (2,143 families in 1975 and 3,520 families in 1985), and both found an extremely high incidence of physical assaults against children which were severe enough to constitute…

Many families are in crisis and the effect on children is staggering. The three main stresses of children and families today are divorce and remarriage, violence, and lack of communication in families. Efforts must be made to avoid losing the greatest natural resource: families. (DG)

Schools are very sensitive to the rapid social, economic, and demographic changes that the United States is presently undergoing. They are at a disadvantage compared to most other social institutions because, in serving a younger population, they have less lead time to prepare for changes in the complexion of society. Young people in today's world…

A study investigated juvenile judges' and child protection workers' dealings with child abuse from 1960-1995 in the Netherlands. A review of 182 cases found prevalence of very severe physical violence has decreased, however, judicial child protection workers intervened less harshly in recent cases of child abuse than in the 1960's. (Contains…

This essay reviews the last two decades in the field of child abuse and neglect and notes progress in societal attitudes. It urges making the case against hitting children and suggests the use of scientific evidence, personal testimony, and demonstration of "a better way." Major issues of language and the setting of standards in caregiving are…

This paper discusses the social-therapeutic approach to preventing abusive behavior, and describes the implementation of specific STOP Abusive Behavior Syndrome (ABS) projects in New York City, New York. The projects' goal is to empower people to continually develop throughout their lifespans. Basic tenants include the following: (1) emotions are…