THE ARTICLES, ONE-THIRD OF WHICH APPEARED ORIGINALLY IN THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, WERE SELECTED FOR THEIR INSIGHTS INTO INDIVIDUAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND SOCIETAL VIOLATIONS OF THE NEEDS, RIGHTS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, AND INTO THE SOURCES AND DYNAMICS OF VIOLENCE. THE ARTICLES REPRESENT ATTEMPTS TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES (FRAGMENTATION, UNIDIMENSIONALITY, VICTIM BLAMING, SUPERFICIALITY, VALUE NEUTRALITY IN PROBLEM DEFINITION) THAT PERSISTENTLY LIMIT COMPREHENSION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS CHILD ABUSE. THE FIRST OF THE BOOK'S THREE SECTIONS INCLUDES ARTICLES ON THE NATURE AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE, GOVERNMENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CONTROLLING ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE AS PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, DEPRIVATION OF PHYSICAL AFFECTION AS A SOURCE OF VIOLENCE, THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF CHILD ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE AS AN EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISM ASSOCIATED WITH POPULATION-RESOURCE BALANCE, AND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF AND OPINIONS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE. MANIFESTATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AT THE INTERPERSONAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND SOCIETAL LEVELS ARE EXPLORED IN ARTICLES ON CONDITIONS IN A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF PHYSICAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN, CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE SCHOOLS, SERVICE PROVIDERS' RESPONSIBILITIES TO CHILDREN, THE ECOLOGY OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSED CHILDREN, ATTITUDES OF AMERICANS TOWARD CHILDREN, VIOLENCE AMONG GHETTO CHILDREN, PEDIATRIC PRACTICE AND CHILD ABUSE, AND ABUSE PREVENTION. OTHER ARTICLES LINK CHILD MALTREATMENT TO THE LARGER ISSUE OF INTERPERSONAL AND STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY, DISCUSSING SUCH TOPICS AS FAMILY VIOLENCE, SOCIALIZATION, SOCIAL CLASS AND CORP0ORAL PUNISHMENT IN CHILD REARING, AGGRESSION ON THE PLAYGROUND, FAMILY EXPERIENCE AND SUPPORT OF THE DEATH PENALTY, ABORTION, THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE IN CHILDHOOD, WAR AND CHILDREN, AND THE SOCIETAL ROOTS OF SUICIDE. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, SEE NCJ-07931, 19304, 19307, 19308, 26370,32162, 42980, 44716, 50691, 53274, 55455, AND 56405-56414. (LKM)