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Responses of Physically Abused and Nonabused Children to Different Forms of Interadult Anger
Author(s) -
Hennessy Kevin D.,
Rabideau Gerald J.,
Cicchetti Dante,
Cummings E. Mark
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00785.x
Subject(s) - anger , aggression , psychology , physical abuse , poison control , psychopathology , developmental psychology , injury prevention , nonverbal communication , child abuse , verbal abuse , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , medicine , environmental health
Responses to various forms of interadult anger were examined in 2 groups of 6–11‐year‐olds: 44 low‐SES children with a history of physical abuse and exposure to interspousal aggression, and 44 low‐SES children exposed to interspousal aggression but with no history of physical abuse or other child maltreatment. Children were presented with videotaped segments of adults in angry and friendly interactions. Angry segments varied on ( a ) the type of anger expression (nonverbal, verbal, verbal‐physical), and ( b ) whether anger was resolved. In general, physically abused children reported greater fear than nonabused children in response to all forms of interadult anger. Moreover, abused children appeared particularly sensitive to whether anger between adults was resolved. Findings are discussed with regard factors that may mediate relations between exposure to family violence and the development of psychopathology in children from highly aggressive home environments.