One of the reasons why so few parents question the wisdom of "spare the rod and spoil the child" and why so few researchers have investigated the potential adverse effects, is probably the culturally accepted assumption that, when done "in moderation," physical punishment is harmless and sometimes necessary. This study starts from assumptions that…

Most child abuse has a violent quality. A review of the research on child abusers reveals some interesting psychosocial and historical characteristics. Research has shown violence to be more likely in less stable populations, in persons with poor driving records and histories of severe accidents, and in those who are undereducated and unsuccessful…

Application of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) to the assessment of child abuse is described. The CTS is a brief instrument designed to measure three aspects of parent-to-child behavior: (1) reasoning; (2) psychological aggression; and (3) physical aggression. The psychological and physical aggression indexes are intended to measure the…

Compared client families that included maltreated adolescents with control families. Members of client families were more depressed than members of comparison families. However, both client and comparison adolescents were more depressed and had lower self-esteem than their parents. Discusses the relevance of research findings for theories of…

Reports data on the extent of abuse and neglect (both physical and emotional) in a population of middle-class families. Argues that child abuse and neglect have been studied almost exclusively in working-class communities, particularly socially marginal families. Found emotional neglect predominated over physical aggression because of middle-class…

Describes the children's therapeutic program at The Family Place (a shelter for victims of family violence), designed to provide children with positive role models, positive experiences, and healthy alternatives to dealing with frustration and anger. The program has three major components: crisis intervention activities, remedial activities, and…

Presents a profile of parents who abuse their children, addressing demographic characteristics, personality traits, psychological patterns, and emotional responses. Implications for school counselors are given. (BL)

This study of 234 validated sexual abuse cases (in which 59% of perpetrators were household members) calls into question the belief that children gradually disclose their abuse in a quasi-developmental process that follows sequential stages. Of the cases, 96% of victims made a partial or full disclosure of abuse during at least 1 interview with…

This study of 60 contested custody cases in Florida found that judges appeared responsive to allegations of abuse with regard to awards of the children's primary physical residence but not with regard to shared custody. Reports of parental substance abuse had no apparent impact on judicial decision making. (Author/JDD)

Investigated intergenerational transmission of violence among college students in dating relationships (n=380). Severe abuse by his father predicted a man's violent behavior. Witnessing marital violence predicted a woman's liberal attitudes and a man's conservative attitudes. Discrepancy in attitudes toward women and particularly a woman's liberal…

Causes of child abuse by parents are discussed. A therapy program in Buenos Aires (Argentina) for abusive parents is described. The program utilizes self-help groups as part of the therapeutic plan and has found them to be promising. Referral, types of interactions with the groups, and short-, medium-, and long-term objectives are discussed. (BRM)

Examines how the coexisting risk factors of sexual abuse and parental substance use contribute to psychopathology in women. Results indicate that depression, trauma symptoms, antisocial behaviors, and suicidal behaviors are related to childhood experiences of sexual and physical abuse. The need for future research to examine multiple childhood…

This article reviews evidence that an abuser's relationship to the child (whether a biological father, stepfather/father figure, or nonfather figure) is an important variable in understanding a child's adjustment. Although the level of physical abuse did not differ by grouping, stepfathers were the most emotionally abusive and children reported…

Adolescent-to-parent abuse is a serious social problem that has received limited attention from researchers and service providers. Most knowledge about this type of violence in the family comes from quantitative studies that focus on intrafamilial characteristics, demographic factors, and overall rates of abuse. The aim of this article is to…

Objective: The effects of both childhood and teenage experiences of domestic violence on adolescent-parent attachments were examined. Method: Israeli adolescents (M=15.9 years) who were either victims of physical abuse, witnesses of physical spouse abuse, victims and witnesses of abuse, or neither victims nor witnesses of abuse were questioned…