Chapters in Part I establish the basis of abnormal rearing practices and present the historical, cultural, epidemiological, and psychological causes of child abuse. Part II, the most significant expanded section of this edition, discusses various forms of child abuse, ranging from sexual exploitation and incest to neglect and burning. Chapters in this section provide all disciplines, especially medical examiners, with detailed discussions of their roles in conducting comprehensive assessments of symptoms of child abuse. Part III is an updated discussion of the short-term and long-term intervention and treatment methods, with an expanded discussion of the role of law, law enforcement officials, and lawyers. There are significant additions in the treatment of sexual exploitation of children. Part IV provides an overview of child abuse prevention, a positive examination of the parent-infant relationship, and recommendations for national child abuse priorities. The editors conclude with recommendations for the field. Chapter references, subject index. For individual chapters, see NCJ 111196-219. (Publisher summary modified)