Attributions and discipline history as predictors of child abuse potential and future discipline practices

Abstract

These results suggest that the attributions of self-blame held by young adults about their discipline experiences are significant for increasing physical abuse potential regardless of whether the individual reports a history of abuse.

Attitudes Mediate the Association Between Childhood Disciplinary History and Disciplinary Responses

“…Additionally, abusive mothers have been found to have more negative perceptions of the abused child (Larrance & Twentyman,l983), more unrealistic expectations regarding attainment of developmental milestones, and difficulties in problem-solving to manage child behaviors (Azar,Robinson,Hekimian,& Twentyman,l984;Williamson,Borduin,& Howe,l991). Perception of the child being deserving of harsh discipline has also been identified as an important attitudinal factor in predicting parental responding because when a child is considered to be misbehaving, they are more likely to be blamed for disciplinary outcomes (e.g., Kelder, McNamara, Carlson, & Lynn, l991;Rodriguez & Price, 2004). In fact, children who view their disciplinary treatment as deserved are more likely to justify their own abusive experiences (Rausch & Knutson, 1991) and are at increased risk for later abusive parenting (Rodriguez & Price, 2004).…”

“…Perception of the child being deserving of harsh discipline has also been identified as an important attitudinal factor in predicting parental responding because when a child is considered to be misbehaving, they are more likely to be blamed for disciplinary outcomes (e.g., Kelder, McNamara, Carlson, & Lynn, l991;Rodriguez & Price, 2004). In fact, children who view their disciplinary treatment as deserved are more likely to justify their own abusive experiences (Rausch & Knutson, 1991) and are at increased risk for later abusive parenting (Rodriguez & Price, 2004). When attitudes regarding general disciplinary approaches are considered, belief in authoritarian control strategies (Susman,Trickett,Iannotti,Hollenbeck,ZahnWaxler,l985) and the value of corporal punishment (Crouch & Behl, 2001) have both been linked to increased child abuse potential.…”

“…Given that student and other preparent populations show high degrees of concordance with parent populations in their attitudes regarding disciplinary acts (Bower & Knutson,l996;Portwood,l998) but have not yet had to function in a parenting role, such preparent groups offer an important opportunity for the investigation of the original patterns of association between disciplinary history, attitudes, and behaviors (e.g., Rodriguez & Price, 2004). The present study focused on use of such a preparent population to examine the impact of a mediator that could potentially be targeted in the increasing push for primary prevention efforts focused on preparent and new parent populations (e.g., Bavolek,l989;Flynn,l998;Margolin & Craft,l990;Masten,Best,& Garmezy,l990;Zoline & Jason,l985).…”

Experiências infantis e risco de abuso físico: mecanismos envolvidos na repetição da violência

“…Por fim, vale notar que a indagação sobre a adequação das punições sofridas na infância revelou que a maioria de G1 as considerou como indevidas ou injustas, contradizendo a noção de merecimento que se constituiria em variável mediadora da reprodução de comportamentos abusivos (Rodriguez & Price, 2004). Tais resultados indicam que G1 avaliaria mais negativamente as práticas educativas às quais teria sido submetido, o que remete, então, à indagação do porquê e como haveria reprodução dessas com os próprios filhos.…”

“…A noção de merecimento da punição (ou do abuso físico sofrido) seria a base para o desenvolvimento de atitudes de aprovação do uso dessa, sendo uma das vias pela qual a história de punição influenciaria as estratégias disciplinares utilizadas com os filhos (Bower-Russa, 2005;Rodriguez & Price, 2004). Bower e Knutson (1996), ao avaliar a relação entre a classificação das experiências vividas e o desenvolvimento de atitudes favoráveis à utilização da punição física com os próprios filhos, verificaram que se a experiência de ter sido punido na própria infância atrelava-se a ter sofrido danos severos, havia também algum nível de consciência das consequências negativas dessa, o que aumentava as chances dela ser classificada como abuso e de haver o desenvolvimento de atitudes negativas frente à sua utilização.…”