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CHILD ABUSE - LEVELS OF MANIFESTATION, CAUSAL DIMENSIONS, AND PRIMARY PREVENTION

NCJ Number
46191
Journal
Victimology Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 186-194
Author(s)
D G GIL
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE IS EXAMINED, WITH ITS MANIFESTATIONS IN THE HOME AND IN INSTITUTIONS, CAUSES, AND PREVENTION THROUGH ELIMINATION OF THE CAUSAL CONTEXTS.
Abstract
CHILD ABUSE IS DEFINED AS THE WASTE OF CHILDREN'S INTRINSIC POTENTIAL OR DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES CONDUCIVE TO OPTIMAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE ACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. TWO ANALYTIC CONCEPTS ARE USED TO STUDY THE NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE AND TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS FOR ITS PREVENTION: LEVELS OF MANIFESTATION, AND LEVELS OF CAUSATION. LEVELS OF MANIFESTATION IDENTIFY THE AGENTS AND SETTINGS IN WHICH CHILDREN MAY EXPERIENCE ABUSE. THE INTERACTION OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF CAUSATION RESULTS IN ABUSIVE ACTS AND ABUSIVE CONDITIONS AT THE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MANIFESTATION: THE HOME, INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS DAY-CARE CENTERS, SCHOOLS, COURTS, AND CHILD CARE AGENCIES; AND SOCIETY ITSELF. ABUSIVE ACTS IN THE HOME MAY BE INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL, ONE-TIME EVENTS OR A REGULAR PATTERN. AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL, ABUSE CONSISTS OF ACTS AND POLICIES WHICH INHIBIT A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT OR WHICH DO NOT PROVIDE MEANS FOR OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT. ABUSE AT SCHOOL OFTEN HAS AN INDIRECT EFFECT UPON ABUSE AT HOME, AS PARENTS MAY VIEW ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR BY EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES AS APPROPRIATE AND CORRECT, SANCTIONED BY 'EXPERTS.' SOCIETAL CHILD ABUSE STEMS FROM SOCIAL POLICIES WHICH SANCTION DEFICITS BETWEEN ACTUAL AND OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT. THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL OF CHILD ABUSE CONSISTS OF A COMBINATION OF SOCIETY'S BASIC CONCEPT OF HUMANS; THE NATURE OF ITS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS; AND THE PARTICULAR QUALITY OF HUMAN RELATIONS PREVAILING IN THE SOCIETY. A SECOND LEVEL CONCERNS THE DEFINITION OF CHILDHOOD PREVALENT IN THE SOCIETY -- HOW IT DEFINES THEIR RIGHTS, HOW MUCH SUBMISSION IT EXPECTS OF THEM, AND HOW IT SOCIALIZES THEM. ANOTHER DEPENDS UPON SOCIETY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE USE OF FORCE AS A LEGITIMATE MEANS FOR ATTAINING ENDS. TRIGGERING CONTEXTS, SUCH AS THE STRESS AND FRUSTRATION OF POVERTY, ALSO PRECIPITATE THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN. PRIMARY PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE (I.E., PREVENTION BY REMOVAL OF CAUSAL CONTEXTS) WOULD REQUIRE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY, THE ELIMINATION OF POVERTY, AND THE ELIMINATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLNESS. PRIMARY PREVENTION IS THUS A POLITICAL ISSUE WHICH CANNOT BE RESOLVED THROUGH PROFESSIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES. IF COMPLETE SOCIETAL CHANGE IS NOT ACCOMPLISHED, THE MOST THAT CAN BE EXPECTED IS SOME MEASURE OF AMELIORATION OF THE PROBLEM. (VDA)