Compared to 16 matched nonabused peers, 16 abused Ss (8-12 years old) showed no less persistence in working for rewards, made equivalent use of contingency information to maintain persistence, and assumed equivalent responsibility for success. However, they took less responsibility for failure. (CL)

Effective handling of court cases of incest involving a child calls for an understanding of the dynamics of the child's family. This paper outlines characteristics of the parents involved and treatment considerations. (Author/SE)

Child molesters, rapists, and three control groups were assessed on measures of heterosocial skills, social anxiety, hostility, impulsivity, and attitudinal variables via role-play and paper-and-pencil measures. Heterosocial skill deficits and specific anxieties and fears were observed in child molesters and rapists. Measures of hostility or…

This study investigated aggressive, withdrawn, and prosocial behavior in 21 physically abused, 26 nonabused-neglected, and 21 nonabused-nonneglected children, ages 5-8. No single dimension adequately discriminated children in each of the three groups. Full discrimination was achieved only when aggressive, withdrawn, and prosocial behaviors were…

Available from: EC 090 265.

Available from: EC 090 265.

Abused children who survived the trauma of their childhood and grew up to be well-adjusted were compared with a matched group who showed a high degree of psychosocial pathology. The variables which distinguished the two groups were fatalism, self-esteem, cognitive abilities, self-destructiveness, hope and fantasy, behavior patterns and external…

Investigated in a followup study of 219 NAT (non-accidental trauma) children and 159 NEG (gross neglect) children were the specific effects of abusive environments on psychosocial development and the possible reversibility of these effects with intervention through foster home placement. Available from: EC 090 265. (Author/IM)

Girls who had been sexually abused (n=68) or had alleged being sexually abused (n=68) exhibited sleep problems, fearfulness, emotional and behavioral changes, concentration problems, and sexual curiosity and knowledge. Girls known to have been abused were more self-conscious, fearful of being left alone, and had more nightmares than the allegedly…

Evidence suggests that sexual abuse has serious long-term effects; but specific effects, independent of force, threatened force, or family variables such as parental psychopathology, are not yet clarified. Effects among adults in terms of their relationship to sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, fear, multiple or borderline personality…

Potential long-term effects of the trauma of severe sexual abuse on a child's sense of living in his/her body and in the world are explored. Trauma and dissociation are analyzed and linked to a posttraumatic sense of personal identity. Then dissociation, multiple personality disorder, eating disorders, somatization disorder, self-mutilation, and…

Child abuse and neglect is seen as an abnormal parenting behavior which has resulted from neglect or abuse of the abusive parents during their early lives. Included are brief sections on the following topics: the development of the abusive child-rearing pattern (lack of sufficient love and care, extremely high premature demand for performance, and…