Patterns Of Child Abuse Essay

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Patterns and Characteristics of the Abuser and the Abused Human services professionals are often called upon to conduct complete assessments in cases where abuse has occurred. In order to conduct an accurate assessment, there must be a clear understanding of the patterns and characteristics often associated with abusers and the abused.
Patterns and Characteristics of Family Members of the Potentially Abused Child Patterns are typically exhibited by family members of potentially abused children. During the screening of family members, it is important for human services workers to look for various patterns such as secrecy, since it is not uncommon for the other parent or other children in the home to attempt to hide the occurrence of abuse (Hirschy & Wilkinson, 2010, p. 229). It is also important to be aware of inconsistent stories relating to how injuries have occurred (Hirschy & Wilkinson, 2010, p. 229). It may be necessary to interview family members separately in order to help determine the actual cause of injury to a child. Equally as important when screening family members, is being aware of individuals who deny obvious signs of injury and appear to be unconcerned about the child’s welfare (Hirschy & Wilkinson, 2010, p. 229). This type of dysfunction causes children to live in dangerous environments for …show more content…
According to Hirschy and Wilkinson (2010), “Children living in poverty are 22 times more likely to suffer abuse than those who live with higher incomes (p. 125). Families living in lower socioeconomic environments often exhibit characteristics that consist of lower education, limited resources, and lack of parenting and relationship skills (Hirschy & Wilkinson, 2010, pp. 125-126). As a result of living in lower socioeconomic environments, stress occurs which is a contributing factor of the abusive behavior (Hirschy & Wilkinson, 2010, p.

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