Abuse
 Non-accidental
injury or pattern of injury to
a child
 Not a DSM-IV clinical category
 Coded on Axis 4
Kaufman & Zigler (1987)
 90%
of abusers were abused
 82% of those abused do NOT become
abusers
 Difference between those who did and did
not become abusers
What causes parents to abuse their
children?
1.
2.
3.
Socio-cultural factors
Parents’ personal characteristics
Characteristics of parent-child interaction
Twentyman et al. (1984)
Sequence of abusive events:
1. Parent has unrealistic expectations
2. Child fails to meet expectations
3. Parent makes intentional attribution for
child behavior
4. Parent reacts/overreacts
Impact of abuse





Increases risk for psychological problems
Abuse as a stressor
Acute symptoms mimic reactions to stress
Disrupted attachment in infants
Disordered peer relationships





Withdrawal
aggression
Distorted views of self
School problems
Sexual problems
Adult Outcomes
Many adults survive okay
A. Physical


Interpersonal problems
Aggression & violence
Sexual
B.




Impaired self-esteem
Emotional self-regulation
Interpersonal difficulties
DSM disorders (anxiety, PTSD,
Treatment
Frame problem in terms of daily discipline problems
Identify stressful situations
Emphasize painfulness of problem/ search for
alternative strategies
A.
B.
C.
Goals: reduce aversive parent-child interactions





Increase positive exchanges
Increase skill with nonphysical discipline
Quick resolution of confrontations
Decrease stress and anger levels
Decrease physical discipline
Controversy around children’s selfreports of abuse
 Quiz
 Name
at least three issues that are raised
by Saywitz in considering children’s eye
witness testimony.
Factors that inhibit reporting
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Power imbalance
Desire to do what adults tell them
Threats to keep secret
Relationship involving trust or
dependency
Implied or imagined negative
consequences
Feelings of guilt, self-blame, shame
Factors that may impact a child’s
testimony
1.
2.
3.
4.
Memory
Suggestibility
Reality vs. fantasy
Stressors
Saywitz perspective
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Children don’t make things up
Children not more suggestible (4 & up) to
main events
Sometimes more suggestible to
peripheral events
No false reports
All bets off with 3 year olds
Ceci’s perspective
1.
2.
Children conform to suggestion
Answer in affirmative
Reconciliation
 Questioning
style
 Repeated questioning