Abstract
A controlled investigation of 214 parents of battered babies shows that they were young and predominantly of lower social class. Premature parenthood is an associated feature. Among the mothers 76% had an abnormal personality and 48% were neurotic. Nearly half were of borderline or subnormal intelligence; 11% had a criminal record. Of the fathers 64% had an abnormal personality, more than half being psychopaths. Twenty-nine per cent. had a criminal record. Recidivism is an associated feature.
The risk of battering possibly diminishes with time. The teaching of appropriate child-rearing skills, symptomatic relief, and social relearning are suggested as realistically based treatment methods and should be combined with a care order. When response to treatment appears unlikely permanent removal from parental care should be considered.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Birrell R. G., Birrell J. H. The maltreatment syndrome in children: a hospital survey. Med J Aust. 1968 Dec 7;2(23):1023–1029. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1968.tb83393.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lukianowicz N. Battered children. Psychiatr Clin (Basel) 1971;4(5):257–280. doi: 10.1159/000283183. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Oliver J. E., Cox J. A family kindred with ill-used children: the burden on the community. Br J Psychiatry. 1973 Jul;123(572):81–90. doi: 10.1192/bjp.123.1.81. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Scott P. D. Fatal battered baby cases. Med Sci Law. 1973 Jul;13(3):197–206. doi: 10.1177/002580247301300307. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith S. M., Hanson R. Failure to thrive and anorexia nervosa. Postgrad Med J. 1972 Jun;48(560):382–384. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.48.560.382. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith S. M., Honigsberger L., Smith C. A. E.E.G. and personality factors in baby batterers. Br Med J. 1973 Jul 7;3(5870):20–22. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5870.20. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WOOLLEY P. V., Jr, EVANS W. A., Jr Significance of skeletal lesions in infants resembling those of traumatic origin. J Am Med Assoc. 1955 Jun 18;158(7):539–543. doi: 10.1001/jama.1955.02960070015005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Walton H. J., Presly A. S. Use of a category system in the diagnosis of abnormal personality. Br J Psychiatry. 1973 Mar;122(568):259–268. doi: 10.1192/bjp.122.3.259. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]