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Understanding Abusive Parents

STUDY OF FAMILY INTERACTION LEAD TO NEW UNDERSTANDING OF ABUSIVE    
PARENTS

          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
    mothering produces an aggressive, disobedient child.

          A...