Understanding Abusive Families

An up-to-date analysis of the factors contributing to abuse

This newly revised edition of a classic in the field of child abuseand neglect presents effective guidelines for prevention,protection, and rehabilitation.

Compelling and compassionate, this book explores why and howfamilies become abusive. It then offers both the wisdom andspecific clinical interventions that will aid in the understandingof abuser and victim.

Understanding Abusive Families offers cutting-edge information andprescriptions for change reagrding:

* the patterns of incidence and prevalence
* the community context of child abuse and the issue of socialsupport
* psychological and sexual maltreatment
* child abuse in institutional families
* the special issues involved in adolescent maltreatment Part One: An Introduction to Basic Concepts .

1. The Meaning of Maltreatment (James Garbarino, JohnEckenrode).

2. The Scope and History of Child Abuse and Neglect (Frank Barry,Patrick Collins).

3. The Community Context of Child Abuse and Neglect (JamesGarbarino, Frank Barry).

4. Disturbances in Relationships: Parenting, Family Development,and Child Maltreatment (Kerry Bolger, Marney Thomas, JohnEckenrode).

Part Two: Special Issues.

5. The Elusive Crime of Psychological Maltreatment (JamesGarbarino, John Eckenrode, Kerry Bolger).

6. Family Sexual Abuse (Marney Thomas, John Eckenrode, JamesGarbarino).

7. Child Maltreatment in Loco Parentis (Michael Nunno, MarthaHolden, Brian Leidy).

Part Three: Adolescent Maltreatment.

8. The Maltreatment of Youth (James Garbarino, John Eckenrode, JaneLevine Powers).

9. Youth in Trouble Are Youth Who Have Been Hurt (John Eckenrode,Jane Levine Powers, James Garbarino).

10. In Conclusion: Family Life Development and Child Protection(James Garbarino, John Eckenrode). "A well-written, carefully edited book that offers a new way ofconceptualizing child abuse. It is a book well suited for collegecourses, training programs, and practicing clinicians and should berequired reading for politicians and policy makers." (PsychiatricServices)

"In an accessible style that incorporates clinical vignettes toillustrate concepts, these authors have made an important andlasting contribution to our understanding of child abuse.Understanding Abusive Families will be an important addition to thelibraries of all who are interested in understanding childmaltreatment and in protecting the most vulnerable members ofsociety?our children." (Dante Cicchetti, Ph.D., University ofRochester, Mt. Hope Family Center)

"Understanding Abusive Families presents a useful overview of thechild abuse problem and a cogent plea to stop doing business asusual. If we heeded this plea as a nation, we could begin to helpchildren get beyond the scars of abuse." (Anne Cohn Donnelly,executive director, National Committee to Prevent ChildAbuse)

"A comprehensive, well-documented, and clarifying study of animportant issue. Offers thoughtful recommAndations for bothprevention and intervention. Anyone interested in vulnerablechildren and adolescents will find something of use in thisvolume." (Donald Cohen, director, Yale University Child StudyCenter, and Jean Adnopoz, associate clinical professor, YaleUniversity Child Study Center)

"An invaluable resource. Provides an important view of familieswithin a broader context--within the real world in which they live.This comprehensive perspective can help improve our ability toprotect children, support families, and prevent childmaltreatment." (Deanne Tilton Durfee, executive director, LosAngeles County Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect) JAMES GARBARINO is director of the Family Life Development Centerand professor of human development at Cornell University. He is theauthor of Raising Children in a Socially Toxic Environment (1995)from Jossey-Bass.

JOHN ECKENRODE is associate director of the Family Life DevelopmentCenter and professor of human development at Cornell University. Since it was first published in 1980, Understanding Abusive Families has been regarded as a classic in the field of child abuse and neglect. Coauthored by James Garbarino--one of the foremost authorities on the topic--this extensively revised edition offers an up-to-date analysis of the factors contributing to abuse and presents effective guidelines for prevention, protection, and rehabilitation.Compelling and compassionate, this book explores why and how families become abusive and offers the wisdom and knowledge needed to understand both the abuser and the victim. Understanding Abusive Families takes a developmental approach--tracing the change in the dynamics of abuse from infancy through childhood to adolescence--and clearly explains the internal and external pressures that contribute to maltreatment. The authors also explore the interdepAndence of individuals, families, and society and provide a much need ecological perspective on abuse.This comprehensive resource offers cutting-edge information on:** Patterns of incidence and prevalence** The community context of child abuse and the issue of social support** Psychological and sexual maltreatment** Child abuse in foster care and institutional families** Special issues involved in adolescent maltreatmentThe authors caution that to be truly effective, intervention programs must transform the basic cultural, social, and economic attitudes that permit thousands of children to be physically and psychologically harmed. A definitive guide to the dynamics of child abuseWritten by two of the country's most renowned authorities on the problems of youth, this classic book provides a thorough understanding of child abuse by tracing its development from infancy through childhood to adolescence. Going to the very heart of the problem, the authors also present a prescription to remedy the vicious cycle of abuse, warning that we must bring about fundamental changes in the basic cultural, social, and economic attitudes that allow children to be physically and psychologically harmed.