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The aggressive characteristics of abused and neglected children
Author(s) -
Reidy Thomas J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(197710)33:4<1140::aid-jclp2270330449>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - aggression , psychology , child abuse , poison control , injury prevention , punishment (psychology) , suicide prevention , human factors and ergonomics , developmental psychology , victimology , clinical psychology , medical emergency , medicine
Awareness of child abuse as a serious social problem has risen sharply in recent years, yet there has been only limited and inadequate research on the abused child's growth and development. This study investigated the aggressive characteristics of young abused children with those of nonabused‐ne‐glected and normal children, a comparison not previously made. Results indicated that abused children exhibited significantly more aggression than the nonabused‐neglected and normal children on TAT stories and in a free play environment. Both the abused and the nonabused‐neglected groups demonstrated significantly more aggression in a school setting than did normals. The findings lend empirical verification to previous descriptions of abused children as overly aggressive and support the social learning formulation that children exposed to aggressive parental models will demonstrate aggressive characteristics outside the home. The data are also consistent with prior research that links physical punishment in the home with hyperaggressiveness in children. The need for early identification and treatment of abused children is discussed.