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Understanding Of Abusive Essay Research Paper Researchers

Understanding Of Abusive Essay, Research Paper


Researchers at the University of Toronto have taken


important steps toward producing a profile of an abusive parent.


Prof. Gary Walters and doctoral student Lynn Oldershaw of the


Department of Psychology have developed a system to characterize


parents who physically abuse their children. This could


ultimately allow social service professionals to identify


parents in child abuse.


Over the last five years, Walters and Oldershaw, in


collaboration with Darlene Hall of the West End Creche, have


examined over 100 mothers and their three to six-year-old


children who have been physically abused. In the laboratory, the


mother and child spend 30 minutes in structured activities such


as playing, eating and cleaning-up. The family interaction is


video-taped and later analyzed.


The researchers have developed a system which allows them


to record the effectiveness of parenting skills. They are


particularly interested in disciplinary strategies because abuse


most commonly occurs when the parent wants the child to comply.


“It’s a question of trying to determine which type of parent


produces which type of child or which type of child elicits


which type of parental behaviour,” explains Oldershaw.


As a result of their work, Walters and Oldershaw have


identified distinct categories of abusive parents and their


children. ‘Harsh/intrusive’ mothers are excessively harsh and


constantly badger their child to behave. Despite the fact that


these mothers humiliate and disapprove of their child, there are


times when they hug, kiss or speak to them warmly. This type of


<
p>mothering produces an aggressive, disobedient child.


A ‘covert/hostile’ mother shows no positive feelings


towards her child. She makes blatant attacks on the child’s


self-worth and denies him affection or attention. For his part,


the child tries to engage his mother’s attention and win her


approval.


An ‘emotionally detached’ mother has very little


involvement with her child. She appears depressed and


uninterested in the child’s activities. The child of this type


of mother displays no characteristics which set him apart from


other children.


In order to put together a parenting profile, the two


researchers examine the mother/child interaction and their


perception and feelings. For instance, Walters and Oldershaw


take into account the mother’s sense of herself as a parent and


her impression of her child. The researchers also try to


determine the child’s perception of himself or herself and of


the parent. Abusive parents are often believed to have


inadequate parenting skills and are referred to programs to


improve these skills. These programs are particularly


appropriate for parents who, themselves, were raised by abusive


parents and as a result are ignorant of any other behavior


toward her child.


One of the goals of the psychologists is to provide


information to therapists which will help tailor therapy to the


individual needs of the abusive parents. “Recidivism rates for


abusive care-givers are high,” says Walters. “To a large extent,


abusive parents which require a variety of treatment. ” Their


research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities


Research Council.

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