AN INTRODUCTORY REVIEW OF THE PHYSICALLY ABUSED CHILD DISCUSSES THE INCIDENCE, ETIOLOGY, AND TREATMENT APPROACHES RELATING TO THE PROBLEM. A SECTION CONCERNING THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT ON CHILDREN INCLUDES ARTICLES ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF ABUSE ON CHILDREN, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSED CHILDREN, THE SYNDROME OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DWARFISM, A FOLLOWUP STUDY OF ABUSED CHILDREN, AND THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF ABUSED AND FAILURE-TO-THRIVE CHILDREN. SELECTIONS ON PROFESSIONAL NEGLECT OF ABUSED CHILDREN, MISTREATED CHILDREN, ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS IN CHILD ABUSE SERVICES, THE ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN BY PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS, THE BATTERED CHILD IN THE CLASSROOM, AND DIFFICULTIES OF CHILD ABUSE RESEARCH ARE PRESENTED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CHILD ABUSE AND THE PROFESSIONAL. ARTICLES ON THE CHILD ABUSING SOCIETY COVER THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION; A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO THE ETIOLOGY OF CHILD ABUSE; THE ABORTION ISSUE IN RELATION TO A HUMANISTIC SOCIETY; AND VIOLENCE, PERMISSIVENESS, AND THE OVERPUNISHED CHILD. CHILD ABUSING PARENTS ARE EXAMINED IN TERMS OF DIFFERENCES IN PARENTING AND SUBSEQUENT CHARACTER STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT; A MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY COMPARISON OF CHILD ABUSERS WITH TWO GROUPS OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS IS ALSO OFFERED IN THIS SECTION. LEGAL ASPECTS OF PROTECTION FOR ABUSED CHILDREN AND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND COURT TESTIMONY IN CHILD ABUSE CASES ARE PRESENTED IN OTHER ARTICLES. AMONG THE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT FAMILIES DESCRIBED ARE MULTIPLE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR THE ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILD, CLIENT-CENTERED CASE CONSULTATION IN PROTECTIVE SERVICES, A FAMILY TRAINING PROGRAM AND A PARENT AIDE PROJECT. EDITORIALS ON THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND PREVENTIVE MODELS ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (DAS)