Conflict in FamiliesChild abuse can be caused by any
combination of the following factors:
When these factors combine with
family conflict, the result too often is
violence. Such abuse can start out rather
benign but escalate into violence under
the wrong circumstances. For example, a
parent who spanks a child may become
frustrated with the child’s continued bad
behavior and graduate to an electrical
cord, causing welts and bruises. Such
beatings often get even more severe as
frustration grows over the inability to
control the child’s behavior. Inflicting
physical trauma may stop the bad
behavior for the moment; but then other
bad behaviors will inevitably emerge,
since the physical abuser has little interest
in building character (in contrast to
appropriate physical discipline). See
chapter 7 for a more thorough discussion
of child abuse.SIDEBAR12.5
There Are No Earscontinued
I have nowhere to go if it happens again. No one wants a woman with three children. Even if
someone is kind enough,they wouldn’t want to become involved in what is commonly referred to as a
“domestic situation.” Everyone I have gone to for help has somehow wanted to blame me and to
vindicate my husband.
No one has to“provoke”a wife beater.He’ll hit when he’s ready and for whatever reason he wishes.I
know that I do not want to be hit.I know,too,that I will be beaten again,unless I can find a way out for
myself and my children. I am terrified for them also. As a married woman I have no recourse but to
remain in the situation,which is causing me to be painfully abused.
I have suffered physical and emotional battering and spiritual rape all because the social structure of
my world says I cannot do anything about a man who wants to beat me. Society says that I must be
committed to a man, without any opportunity for an education and earning capacity. It says that my
children must be subjected to the emotional battering caused when they see their mother’s beaten face
or hear my screams in the middle of the night.
I would like to write more, but that would take a book—and there is no market because there are
no ears.
Thank you,
Jane Doe- situational factors—a stressful
marriage, economic stress, a child
with special needs - psychological factors—especially of the
abuser,such as poor control,certain
personality traits - social factors—violent role models
and a culture which encourages
aggressive behavior