NCJ Number
168298
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
The authors believe psychological maltreatment of children can be understood as parenting and socialization practices that do not meet children's basic psychological needs, and they indicate children exposed to interparental violence should be viewed as victims of psychological maltreatment.
Abstract
A needs analysis based on developmental theory and research is presented as a context in which to view psychological maltreatment. The focus is on competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Using that conceptualization, research findings concerning behavioral, cognitive, and social-emotional difficulties of children exposed to marital violence are examined. Based on this developmental analysis, recommendations are made for additional research on the psychological maltreatment of children in order to change the process of developmental distortion, aggression, and victimization that likely represent the legacy of children who are exposed to marital violence. 56 references