Theories of Child Abuse and Neglect: Differential Perspectives, Summaries, and Evaluations

(Hardback)

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This volume was designed for those in academic institutions and clinical and social services to serve as a comprehensive introduction to the diverse theories about child abuse and neglect etiologies. Although history documents maltreatment of children since the beginning of human civilization, formal recognition of the problem has been relatively recent. During the past three decades, professionals in various fields, especially medicine, psychiatry, social work, law, sociology and psychology, have been involved in the identification, treatment and prevention of child victimization and its detrimental consequences. In studying the aetiology of child maltreatment, many theoretical viewpoints have been proposed in the literature and used for clinical practice as well as academic research. The current work represents a comprehensive evaluation and integration of diverse theorizations concerning the abuse and neglect of children. The authors have compliled more than 40 theories, models and perspectives from the literature. As the subtitle suggests, they describe individual theories and summarize across different theoretical views and evaluate the current status of those theorizations. This volume is intended for three distinct audiences: practitioners, researchers and the general public. Clinical practitioners should find it a source of strategies that can be applied in clinical settings. By documenting the absence of comprehensive, multidisciplinary-oriented theory development, it aims to encourage researchers toward refining existing theories through integration with other theoretical perspectives. For the general public, it should provide insight into a troubling social problem.

Reviews

Because of the comprehensive approach in the number of theories systematically covered, this book can be of value to both practitioners and expert witnesses.-Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law
Child abuse and neglect are among the most troubling and complex social problems. Causation theories are multiple and diverse; empirical data on solutions are confusing, inconclusive, and sometimes conflicting. In this encyclopedic work, Tzeng (Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis) and his colleagues review 46 theories and examine empirical evidence related to five major types of child maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, incestuous abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. They then propose a comprehensive and integrated theoretical model, called the "psychosemantic process model," around which the existing theories and empirical data on types of maltreatment are organized. As the authors note, child maltreatment is a multilevel problem requiring multilevel solutions. By organizing and systematizing information on this problem, their book makes a significant contribution to understanding and dealing with it. An important work for policymakers, practioners, and researchers and scholars in disciplines related to child welfare.-Choice
The book will nevertheless strike a responsive chord in all those who search for unity in a field of such critical responsibility to children and youth. This is a most valuable information and planning source.-A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health
"Because of the comprehensive approach in the number of theories systematically covered, this book can be of value to both practitioners and expert witnesses."-Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law
"The book will nevertheless strike a responsive chord in all those who search for unity in a field of such critical responsibility to children and youth. This is a most valuable information and planning source."-A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health
"Child abuse and neglect are among the most troubling and complex social problems. Causation theories are multiple and diverse; empirical data on solutions are confusing, inconclusive, and sometimes conflicting. In this encyclopedic work, Tzeng (Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis) and his colleagues review 46 theories and examine empirical evidence related to five major types of child maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, incestuous abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. They then propose a comprehensive and integrated theoretical model, called the "psychosemantic process model," around which the existing theories and empirical data on types of maltreatment are organized. As the authors note, child maltreatment is a multilevel problem requiring multilevel solutions. By organizing and systematizing information on this problem, their book makes a significant contribution to understanding and dealing with it. An important work for policymakers, practioners, and researchers and scholars in disciplines related to child welfare."-Choice

Author Bio

OLIVER C.S. TZENG is Professor of Psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. He is also Director of the Osgood Laboratory for Cross-Cultural Research, the Graduate Applied Social Psychology program, the Consortium of Child Abuse and Neglect Resources and Information Services, and the Multidisciplinary Graduate Training Program on Child Abuse and Neglect. He coedited Language, Meaning and Culture: The Selected Papers of C. E. Osgood (Praeger, 1990) and Sourcebook of Child Abuse and Neglect. JAY W. JACKSON is a Research Associate of the Osgood Laboratory for Cross-Cultural Research. As assistant director of the Osgood Laboratory, he has made significant contributions to various social psychology and cross-cultural research projects, including topics on the etiology and prevention of child mistreatment, interethnic hostility, interpersonal aggression, family conflict resolution and prevention of and intervention in child abuse and neglect. HENRY C. KARLSON is a Professor of Law at Indiana University School of Law, and is chairman of the Multidisciplinary Graduate Training Program on child maltreatment at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. He taught the first law course dealing with child abuse and neglect in Indiana and has been active in legal educational programs relating to child maltreatment. He has made significant contributions to evaluation of child abuse and neglect issues from legal and historical perspectives.