Toward a theory of child abuse

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Portland State University
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Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses
1-1-1975
Toward a theory of child abuse: a review of the literature
Marc F. Maden
Portland State University
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Maden, Marc F., "Toward a theory of child abuse: a review of the literature" (1975).Dissertations and Theses.Paper 748.
10.15760/etd.748
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TOWARD A THEORY OF CHILD AB USE:
A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
by
MARC F. MADEN
A thesis subm.itted in partial fulfillm.ent of the
requirem.ents for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
PSYCHOLOGY
Portland State University
1975
© Marc F. Maden 1975
"~
TO THE OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH:
The members of the Committee approve the thesis of
Marc F. Maden presented May 20, 1975
.David F. W'reI;ch, Chairman
Ronald E. Smith, Head, Department of Psychology
Davld T. Clark, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
May 23, 1975
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Marc F. Maden for the Master of
Science in Psychology presented May 20, 1975.
Title: Toward a Theory of Child Abuse: A Review of the Literature
APPROVED BY MEMBERS OF THE THESIS COMMITTEE
David F. Wrench, Chairman
Currently, there exists no conclusive etiology of child abuse
although there are two major and contrasting theories which attempt to
impart a systematic interpretation to the data. The purpose of this
study was to determine what are the significant factors in child abuse
and to what extent the respective theories render a coherent and com-
prehensive explanation of these factors.
This study aggregated the data on the demographic, social,
economic, and psychological features of the child abuse victim and
2
perpetrator. Each study was analyzed according to a methodology of
review which considered the problems involved in eliciting meaningful
data from a group of studies grounded on different assumptions and
conducted according to disparate research designs. The studies were
compared and contrasted to determine what factors were significantly
related to child abuse. Thereafter, both major theories of child abuse
were tested against the findings of the literature review to determine to
what extent the ,respe'dive theories successfully predicted and related
significant factors in child abuse.
The review of the literature clearly established a demographic
profile of the child abuse victim and his family. The abused child is
usually very young, typically below the age of three. Neither race nor
gender are specifically related to the age of the victim. Abusing
families tend to have more than the average number of children, but
usually select only one child - frequently, the eldest or the youngest - as
the target for abuse. The child is likely to have been born prematurely
and to have had more than the usual number of serious physical illnesses
or disabilities throughout his life. In addition, a significant number of
a bused children display intellectual, social, and psychological dysfunc
tion which may have resulted from injuries sustained from previous
abuse. Most injuries stemming from child abuse fall into the general
category of supe:r.£icial bruises anti welts although compared with acci
dental childhood injuries, there is a higher frequency of fractures and
3
head injuries. The pattern that emerges from the somewhat limited
data is that abused children are unusually impaired in intellectual,
social, and psychological functioning.
Nearly all child abuse is committed by parental figures most
of whom are the natural mothers and fathers of abused children. Most
abusing parents are around twenty-five years old reflecting the fact
that the majority of abuse victims are infants and younger children.
Mothers are the most frequent child abusers. Although only one parent
actually attacks the abuse victim, generally speaking, the other parent
is overtly, or a~ least covertly involved in abusing the child. Abusing
parents are characterized by a history of anti-social behavior and
psychological problems. A general atmosphere of instability and dis
ruption surrounds the child abusing family indicated by frequent discord
among maorried parents, as well as separations and divorces. On all
measures of socioeconomic status, child abusing families have low
achievement and face the stresses of poverty and its associated condi
tions. However, neither race nor socioeconomic status distinguish the
abusing family when compared with the social, rac:ial, and economic
groups to which they belong. Abusing families are distinguished by
their transience and inability to maintain social contact with the com
munity or affiliation with social organizations.
Neither a sociocultural or a psychodynamic theory of child
abuse effectively relates and explains all the significant findings of the
4
literature review. While the former predicts the several environmental
factors significantly related to child abuse and the latter explains the
significant findings associated with the perpetrator, neither theory
provides an explanation of the role of the child abuse victim. This
review suggests that an alternative theoretical framework which incor
porates environmental factors and relates significant factors about the
child abuse victim and perpetrator will produce the most comprehensive
explanation of child abuse.
In memory of my mother
~. '.":
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is a great pleasure to recall and thank the individuals who
made contributions to this the sis from its inception to its completion.
My deepest appreciation goes to Dr. David Wrench who originally
introduced me to the study of child abuse and who, with characteristic
energy, perseverance, and care, guided me expertly to completion.
During the drafting and re-drafting of the manuscript, each member of
my thesis committee offered constructive criticism, good counsel;
and strong encouragement. I give m.uch thanks to Dr. Barry Anderson,
Dr. Robert Jones, and Dr. Stan Cohen for their help and support.
This thesis developed out of a project sponsored by the Western
Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of
Oregon Health Sciences Center, Child Psychiatry Program under the
direction of Dr. Harold Boverman. I gratefully acknowledge his
assistance and the cooperation of the entire staff of the Rosenfeld Center
for the Study and Treatment of Child Abuse.
I extend thanks to Katie Juhl, Kristen Kotka, and Steve Farris
for their assistance in revising the original manuscript and pay special
thanks to Susan Teeter for her superb and expeditious rendering of the
final draft. Final thanks goes to Patricia Leighton.
Finally, I express my warm appreciation to Mel Goldstein and
Morris Tiktin for their best wishes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. iii:
LIST OF TABLES •• viii: .,.
CHAPTER
1. THEORIES OF CHILD AB USE • • 1
The Sociocultural Theory. • • 2
The Psychodynamic Theory. 10
Chapter Summary • 18
II. THE METHODOLOGY OF REVIEWING THE CHILD
ABUSE LITERATURE 24
Definition. 24
Child . 30
Physical Abuse 31
Sexual Abuse 31
Infanticide . 33
Neglect. 35
Intentionality . 38
Study De sign and Sampling 40
Sources . 40
Sampling 45
Design 48
Chapter Summary. 50
III. THE CHILD AB USE VICTIM 52