Child Physical Abuse Flashcards
The definition of physical abuse includes 2 standards
Harm standard
Endangerment standard
Harm standard
Observable injuries that last at least 48 hours
What is the 48 hours all about?
to deal with situations of overreaction
in
an effort to sift through situations
parents frequently must use physical force to prevent a child from doing something stupid
Protective physical restraint
Endangerment standard
No observable injuries but deemed substantially at risk for injury or endangerment.
Violence – defined by most researchers as
an act carried out intentionally – non-accidentally –
to
cause physical pain or injury to another person
Physical punishment and parenting (3)
NO idea what the point of this slide is
- “Normal” violence – slapping, pushing, spanking
- Appropriate for parents to use as part of parenting.
- Majority of population support this type of violence against children.
who said – spanking harmful for two reasons?
Murray Straus
Spanking harmful for two reasons?
- Legitimates violence (authority figures are in essence condoning the use of violence as a way of dealing with frustration or settling disputes)
- Implicit message of acceptance of this form of violence contributes to violence. (violence in one sphere of life tends to engender violence in other spheres)
Spanking positively correlated with … (3)
OCA
other forms of family violence
crime outside the home
antisocial behaviours.
What is a punisher?
an event that decreases responses
A punisher is an event that decreases responses. Why isn’t it helpful when teaching kids.
it cannot teach desirable new behaviours
5 rules re. punishment wrought of animal research
AMP TT
- A punishment is not the opposite of reward (reinforcement)
- Mildly punished behaviour will recover
- Punishment that builds up gradually in intensity is ineffective
- To be more effective, punishment must be delivered immediately after the unwanted response
- To be more effective, it must be delivered consistently after every response
5 reasons why punishment may be counterproductive?
DDT PS
• Does not help children learn why what they did was wrong or what they could do instead of punished behaviour
• Demonstrates using force to control others (modelling)
• Teaches nothing about morality
*
• Pain may prevent learning the lesson it was supposed to teach
• Since parents love their children, may increase child’s belief that love/violence are linked
Neurobiological effects of punishment?
reduced volumes of gray matter in three brain – regions (correlational)
harsh punishment has adverse effects on brain development
Describe Impulsive corporal punishment (3)
- Parents lash out in anger
- No forethought
- No control
Legal perspectives – describe definitions of child abuse (2)
- Definitions are different than conceptual definitions.
* Not uniform across jurisdictions
Legal definitions are different than conceptual definitions.
They are not uniform across all jurisdictions.
What does this cause?
problems when gathering statistics
Characteristics of Victims
*
Age
risk decreases with child’s increasing age
Characteristics of Victims * Describe adolescents (3) * Roberta (1)
• Receive little attention by researchers.
• Seen as complicit in assaults (b/c of their behaviour, size and strength)
• Appear less physically vulnerable
*
If parents stop hitting due to the kid gaining some size, it doesn’t mean the abuse stopped, it may just look different.
Characteristics of Victims * Gender * Stats Canada
Gender – boys slightly higher risk
*
Stats Canada – girls under 18 at higher risk than boys for assault by a family member.
Highest rates for boys?
between infancy and 11 years
Highest rates for girls?
between 12 and 17 years
Socioeconomic status (2)
- Higher rates in lower income and socially disadvantaged families.
- Lower income related to more severe abuse.
The greater risk for single parents to abuse their children is not a function of poor parenting or parenting alone, but more related to…?
the high rates of poverty and stress in these homes
Incidence/prevalence – 2 ways this is estimated?
1) gov’t agencies based on reported cases to law enforcement and social service agencies
2) self-reports from victims or perps gathered from survey research
Impediments to reporting
Medical doctors may not recognize
May decide to delay or not report
Other mandated reporters may decide not to report
General public may not report for reasons such as lack of certainty
Psychological, Interpersonal, and Biological Characteristics of Adults who Physically Abuse Children
*
(4) BIB Difficulties
Biological factors
Interpersonal and family difficulties
Behavioural and emotional difficulties
Difficulties parenting
Psychological, Interpersonal, and Biological Characteristics of Adults who Physically Abuse Children
*
Biological factors
PDP
Physical health problems
Disabilities
Physiological overreactivity
Psychological, Interpersonal, and Biological Characteristics of Adults who Physically Abuse Children
*
Interpersonal and family difficulties
SHI
Spouse tension/abuse/disagreement
Hx of abuse in childhood
Isolation from friends & community
Psychological, Interpersonal, and Biological Characteristics of Adults who Physically Abuse Children
*
Behavioural and emotional difficulties
LAD
Low self-esteem
Anxiety
Depression
Psychological, Interpersonal, and Biological Characteristics of Adults who Physically Abuse Children
*
Difficulties parenting
DUD
Disregard for child’s needs/abilities
Unrealistic expectations of children
Deficits in child mgmt skills
Associated consequences
Research findings are correlational – one cannot necessarily assume that CPA is the cause of the various problems observed in victims.
Children more likely to exhibit physical emotional behavioural impairments.
Associated consequences
Research findings are?
Meaning?
Correlational
*
one cannot necessarily assume that CPA is the cause of the various problems observed in victims.
Medical and neurobiological problems * May be minor injuries through to permanent disabilities or death * Most dangerous type of injury? Example?
Head injuries
Shaken baby syndrome
Three types of problems the kids can develop? (4)
cognitive
behavioural
Socioemotional difficulties
psychiatric
Cognitive problems * Exhibit lower intellectual and cognitive functioning. * Lower functioning in? (just name some)
memory verbal language communication skills problem-solving skills perceptual-motor skills
Cognitive problems
*
In school?
Lower academic performance.
Cognitive problems
*
Lower cognitive functioning may be related to
direct injury
environmental factors
a combination of both
Cognitive problems
*
Lower cognitive functioning may be related to direct injury, environmental factors or a combination of both. Environmental factors include…?
Lack of stimulation or communication between parents and the child.
Behavioural problems
DAD PAN
Drinking/drug use Antisocial behaviour Defiance Physical aggression Arrests Noncompliance
Socioemotional difficulties I A - i - d
Internalizing behaviour symptoms
Attachment related difficulties
• insecure attachment to caregiver
• disorganized attachment
Socioemotional difficulties * Attachment related difficulties * Describe insecure attachment to caregiver.
Increased avoidance of and resistance to the parent.
Socioemotional difficulties * Attachment related difficulties * Describe disorganized attachment.
the parent child relationship presents as irresolvable because the parent is both the person who is supposed to protect the child but is also the source of danger and harm to the child.
Socioemotional difficulties * These children also have trouble with...? They find it hard to...? Don’t show...?
peer r’ships
make friends
the usual social responses such as smiling, eye contact, and trust
Socioemotional difficulties
*
Physically abused children describe experiencing feelings of…?
hopelessness
depressive sx
low self-worth
Psychiatric disorders
ADD BP
• ADD/ADHD • Depression • Disruptive behaviour disorders – oppositional defiant disorder – conduct disorder • Borderline personality disorder • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Adolescents - research?
Less research attention
Adolescents - how does physical abuse affect them?
BDV
Behaviour problems
Delinquency
Voilent interpersonal relationships.
Describe some of the things that adolescents experience.
SSS ADH
Suicidal behaviour
Substance abuse
Self-esteem poor
Attention problems
Depressed school performance
High levels of daily stress.
3 LT effects of child physical abuse
CSS
Criminal and violent behaviour
Substance abuse
Socioeconomic difficulties
Explaining Child Abuse.
*
It consists of?
a complex set of interacting behaviours
influenced by
many different factors
Explaining Child Abuse.
*
Research regarding child physical abuse is plagued by?
methodological problems
Explaining Child Abuse.
*
Research is plagued by methodological problems. Say more.
RBSD
Most research is retrospective.
Stories are biased by the subjects’ perceptions so are not objective.
Samples sizes are small.
Definitions of what constitutes abuse are not consistent.
Theories - RIPSS
- Role of Child Behaviour Problems
- Individual Pathology Model
- Parent-Child Interaction
- Social Learning Theory
- Situational and Societal Conditions
Theories - RIPSS * Role of Child Behaviour Problems - describe * Roberta's take
Children with certain characteristics – mental disabilities – aggressiveness – have a psychiatric dx are at increased risk for abuse * Children cannot be held responsible fore their own victimization.
Theories - RIPSS
*
Individual Pathology Model
The abuser is mentally ill.
Theories - RIPSS * Individual Pathology Model * The abuser is mentally ill. Adults who abuse children display...
Specific nonpsychiatric psychological, behavioural and physiological characteristics SUCH AS parenting difficulties anger control problems depression substance abuse.
Theories - RIPSS
*
Parent-Child Interaction
Difficult child behaviours interact with specific parental behaviours to result in physical abuse. TWO SETS OF BEHAVIOURS THAT CLASH
Theories - RIPSS
*
Social Learning Theory (2)
- Adults who were abused as children become abusive to their children.
- Missed the opportunity to learn appropriate and nurturing parent-child behaviours.
Theories - RIPSS
*
Situational and Societal Conditions (3)
Economic disadvantage
Social isolation
– lack of extended family or peer support network
Cultural approval of child physical abuse
– pervasiveness of violence in society, war, acceptance of weapons, acceptance of corporal punishment
Contemporary Theories (2)
Process theories (stress and coping) Transactional Theories
Contemporary Theories
*
Process theories (stress and coping)
physically abusive behaviour by a parent results from a sequence of events that includes the parent’s perceptions of stressful events as well as his or her ability to cope with stressful events
Contemporary Theories
*
Transactional Theories
are unique in that they not only describe various factors that might contribute to CPA,
*
they emphasize the role of the interaction of these factors in the etiology of child maltreatment
Interventions Abusive adults (3) CAP * Children (3) * Family (1)
Anger management Parenting skills training Cognitive-behavioural approaches * Individual, group, play therapy * Little research
