Introduction

Although the problem of child maltreatment is not a new one, the systematic study of this phenomenon began in the relatively recent past. Since the early 1960s this topic has been much discussed and debated, with controversies existing on every issue from definition to treatment. One reason is that child abuse is a concern of workers in a variety of fields, including pediatrics, psychology, psychiatry, education, law, social work, theology, and government. Workers in all these disciplines have contributed to the mosaic of ideas, opinions, and empirical findings that represent what we understand – and much of what we have yet to understand – about the maltreatment of children.

In this chapter we will begin with an overview of child abuse as a historical phenomenon. Definitional issues and the concurrent problem of determining the incidence of child maltreatment will then be considered, as will several etiological theories. Then we will review evidence on the correlates of child maltreatment, and also evaluate the validity of popular notions and myths about child abuse. Finally, we will examine the societal context in which child abuse occurs, and conclude with a number of recommendations for further research and for treatment approaches.

Child maltreatment throughout history

The history of child maltreatment is at once very long and very short. The systematic study of this phenomenon is relatively new, but the maltreatment of children is at least as old as recorded history. Most of the evidence we have today indicates that child abuse is on the rise (Cohn, 1983).