Causes of Maltreatment
Physical abuse and neglect
- little exposure to positive parental models & supports
- greater degree of stress in the family environment
- information-processing disturbances may cause maltreating parents to misperceive or mislabel child’s behavior, leading to inappropriate responses
- lack of awareness or understanding of developmentally appropriate expectations
- conflict and marital violence may be implicated
- Neglectful parents have more striking personality disorders, inadequate knowledge of children’s needs, & chronic social isolation than abusive parents