FAMILY VIOLENCE: DEFINITIONS AND ISSUES

I. FAMILY VIOLENCE Socially constructed Pivotal issues or cases define the phenomena and legislative change There is a continuum of violence

II. Physical Child Abuse and Neglect Maltreatment of children goes back to ancient times Children are property: Spare the rod, spoil the child First court case of child abuse: Case of Mary Ellen (1874) Kempe et al. (1962) defined child abuse as a clinical condition, battered child syndrome

III. Child Sexual Abuse Maps onto the Previous Movements Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act (1978) Child Sexual Abuse and Pornography Act (1986)

IV. Intimate Partner Violence Early marriage laws gave men the legal right to hit their wives (Rule- of -Thumb) First spousal abuse law: 1870 First Shelter for battered women and children: Haven House (1964) Violence Against Women Act: (1995) Marital Rape: First successful conviction (1979)

VI. Elder Abuse One of the last forms of violence to be identified- 1980s Late 1980s: mandatory reporting laws for elders

VII. Courtship Violence and Date Rape

VIII. Themes of Abuse Issues of power and control Issues of ownership Growing awareness of family violence in the 1970s and 1980s Cultural sanctions or prohibitions of family violence determine its prevalence

IX. Myths of Family Violence Family Violence is Rare Only poor people are violence Abused children always become abusive parents Battered women ask for it; Women who are raped on a date were asking for it.

Child Abuse: Definitions

I. Definition of Child Maltreatment Child abuse and neglect or child maltreatment is the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare. The child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened by these actions.

II. Prevalence of Child Physical Abuse Official Statistics: Aggregates CPS reports across the 50 states 3 million children were reported in /3 (996,000) were substantiated Majority were child neglect (54%), 25% were physical abuse Surveys of discipline and conflict resolution Gallup poll ; 5% of children or 3 million met criteria for physical abuse

III. Issues related to reporting differences Definitional Issues Vary Caseworkers are very busy Physical abuse tends to get less attention Poorer people tend to get identified more readily

IV. Definition of Child Physical Abuse Nonaccidental use of force by a parent or other caretaker that results in the child's pain, bodily injury, impairment, or death.

VIII. At Risk Children Unwanted children who resemble someone the parent dislikes Poverty, family size, and other aspects of a stressful environment Family stressors Parents who have rigid attitudes about parenting Substance abuse within the family No Single Profile for a child abuse

IX. Developmental Victimology Risk Factors Child Abuse Homicides Handgun homicides

X. Childhood Dependency and Victimization Type of victimization may depend on childs dependency status

XII. Effects of Child Physical Abuse Initial Responses Medical/Physical Effects Psychological Effects Pain Fear Confusion Poor Self image Disrupted Attachment Dissociation Acting out Aggressively with Siblings

XIII. Effects of Child Physical Abuse Long-Term Effects Behavioral Effects Aggressive and Violent Behavior Nonviolent Criminal Behavior Substance Abuse Self-Injurious and Suicidal Behavior Anxiety and Depression Interpersonal Problems Academic Performance

XIV. Coping Resources High self-esteem Greater Problem Solving Skills Intelligence Having one positive person in the childs life Degree of predictability in the childs life