Child Abuse and Neglect: Second Edition

429 Pages·2013·2.53 MB·English

by  Monica L. McCoy

Child Abuse and Neglect
Child abuse and neglect are examined in this new edition—the latest research, what
it entails, and how to recognize and report it. Federal law mandates the reporting of
suspected child maltreatment by many professionals. This book will appeal to those
who may one day fi nd themselves in the role of a mandated reporter.
Engaging learning tools are integrated throughout:
Focus on Research boxes provide an in-depth look at research or methodologies.
Case Examples and Debates encourage discussion about the gray areas in the fi eld.
Legal Examples and Focus on Law sections explain judicial rulings including guides
for locating relevant state statutes.
Discussion questions promote dialogue and deepen understanding of the material.
Bold-faced key terms defi ned when fi rst introduced also appear in the book’s
glossary.
Conclusions and D efi nitions help students focus on the key concepts introduced
in each chapter.
The new edition also includes the following features:
A thorough updating of the citations and state and federal laws, along with the
latest statistics on incidence and prevalence based on the new National Inci-
dence Study NIS-4.
A new chapter on resiliency (Chapter 10) and more discussion of resilience in
the face of maltreatment in the chapters on types of abuse ( Chapters 4 –9 ) pro-
vide a better understanding of why some children thrive despite experiencing
maltreatment.
New “Profi les” boxes that feature information about graduate training in child
maltreatment, descriptions of jobs in the fi eld, or biographies of people who
work in the fi eld to increase students’ awareness of possible career opportuni-
ties.
Web-based instructor and student resources including PowerPoints, weblinks,
and a test bank with multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay questions.
More tables, fi gures, and photos to better illustrate and summarize key points.
New sections on child maltreatment in military families (C hapter 2) , child obe-
sity as a result of maltreatment (C hapter 5) , teen “sexting” and its possible
prosecution as child sexual abuse, and Susan Clancy’s controversial thesis
published in The Trauma Myth ( Chapter 7 ).
Updated and more case examples including recent events that captured the pub-
lic’s attention such as the case of Jessica Beagley convicted of child abuse for
forcing her son to ingest hot sauce and of Latrece Jones convicted of negligent
homicide for failing to have her son in a car seat.
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The book opens with the background on child maltreatment including its history,
an overview of the research, and the risk factors. Details about mandated report-
ing are also explored. Different forms of maltreatment—physical abuse, neglect,
psychological maltreatment, sexual abuse, fetal abuse, and Munchausen by Proxy
Syndrome—are then examined, along with resiliency, in a new chapter to this
edition. Incidence estimates and consequences for each type of maltreatment are
provided. Legal issues including forensic interviewing are then reviewed. The book
concludes with an example of what happens to a child after a report is fi led along
with suggestions for preventing child maltreatment.
Intended as a text for courses in child abuse, child maltreatment, family vio-
lence, or sexual and intimate violence taught in psychology, human development,
education, criminal justice, social work, sociology, women’s studies, and nursing,
this book is also an invaluable resource to workers who are mandated reporters of
child maltreatment and/or anyone interested in the problem.
Monica L. McCoy is a professor of psychology at Converse College in Spartanburg,
South Carolina.
Stefanie M. Keen is an associate professor of psychology at the University of South
Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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Child Abuse and
Neglect
Second Edition
Monica L. McCoy
Stefanie M. Keen
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First edition published 2009
by Psychology Press
This edition published 2014
by Psychology Press
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Psychology Press
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA
Psychology Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group,
an informa business
© 2014 Psychology Press
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McCoy, Monica L. (Monica Louise)
Child abuse and neglect / Monica L. McCoy, Stefanie M. Keen. — [Second edition].
pages cm
1. Child abuse—United States. 2. Child abuse—Law and legislation—United States.
I. Keen, Stefanie M. II. Title.
HV6626.52.M336 2014
362.76—dc23
2013028231
ISBN: 978-1-84872-605-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-84872-529-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-12069-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Stone Serif
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
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CONTENTS
Dedication xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xvii
Author Biographies xix
PART I Introduction/Purpose 1
CHAPTER 1 Introduction 3
A Brief History of Child Maltreatment 4
Responding to Children in Crises 7
Research on Maltreatment 16
Conclusion 21
Discussion Questions 21
CHAPTER 2 Risk Factors for Child Maltreatment 23
Family Factors 23
Child Factors 32
Extrafamilial Factors 33
Cultural Factors 37
Conclusion 39
Discussion Questions 40
CHAPTER 3 Mandated Reporting 42
The History of Mandated Reporting 42
Persons Required to Report 43
When to Report 45
How to Report 47
v
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vi CONTENTS
Failure to Report 49
Education Regarding Mandated Reporting 52
Confi dentiality and Mandated Reporting 55
Is Mandated Reporting a Good Thing? 56
Conclusion 57
Discussion Questions 58
PART II Types of Abuse and Their Effects 61
CHAPTER 4 Physical Abuse 63
Defi nition 63
Prevalence and Incidence 68
Corporal Punishment 69
Consequences of Physical Abuse 71
Caution: Not All Marks Are Signs of Abuse 82
Marks From Folk Medicine Practices 82
Nonphysical Consequences of Physical Abuse 84
Conclusion 88
Discussion Questions 88
CHAPTER 5 Child Neglect 90
Defi nition 90
Subtypes of Neglect 92
Incidence 113
Consequences of Neglect 114
Intergenerational Transmission of Neglect 121
Conclusion 122
Discussion Questions 122
CHAPTER 6 Psychological Maltreatment 123
Defi nition 123
Defi ning a Line on a Continuum of Behavior 133
Incidence 135
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CONTENTS vii
Consequences of Psychological Maltreatment 138
Conclusion 145
Discussion Questions 145
CHAPTER 7 Sexual Abuse 146
Defi nition 148
Incidence and Prevalence 153
Perpetrators 156
Victims 161
Extrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse 163
Child Sexual Exploitation 168
Consequences of Sexual Abuse 170
Conclusion 187
Discussion Questions 188
CHAPTER 8 Fetal Abuse 189
Defi nition 189
Incidence 190
Causes of Fetal Abuse 190
Effects of Drugs on Prenatal Development 191
Responding to Fetal Abuse 197
Conclusion 209
Discussion Questions 209
CHAPTER 9 Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome 210
Defi nition 210
Victims 214
Perpetrators 215
Incidence 216
Risk Factors 216
Consequences of MPS 218
Investigation of MPS 220
Controversies Related to MPS 224
Conclusion 228
Discussion Questions 229
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viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER 10 Resilience 230
Defi nition 230
Conclusion 243
Discussion Questions 243
PART III Legal Issues 245
CHAPTER 11 Forensic Interviewing of Child Victims 247
Children Providing Testimony 247
The Accuracy of Children’s Testimony 247
Recommendations for Conducing Good Forensic
Interviews 269
Conclusion 271
Discussion Questions 276
CHAPTER 12 The Legal System and Child
Maltreatment 277
Children and the Courtroom 277
Types of Courts 281
Testifying in Court 299
Conclusion 300
Discussion Questions 300
PART IV What Happens Next 301
CHAPTER 13 The Maltreated Child and Child Protective
Services’ Response: What Happens After
a Report Is Made? 303
Intake and Screening 310
Investigation and Initial Assessment 312
Family Assessment 319
Case Planning 320
Service Provision 322
Family Progress 323
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CONTENTS ix
Case Closure 324
Decision Making 324
Conclusion 326
Discussion Questions 326
CHAPTER 14 Preventing Child Maltreatment 328
Overview of Prevention Programs 329
A Public Health Issue 330
Primary Prevention 331
Secondary Prevention 339
Conclusion 343
Discussion Questions 344
Appendix of Abbreviations 345
Glossary 347
References 359
Subject Index 391
Author Index 401
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