The "Aetiology" of Physical and Sexual Abuse of Children:
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This document summarizes a literature review on theories of the causes and conditions associated with physical and sexual abuse of children. It discusses several integrated theories for child sexual abuse and physical abuse. While these theories examine biopsychosocial factors and person-situation dynamics, they have key limitations including decentering the child, viewing children universally rather than accounting for diversity, and not fully considering structural inequalities. The review calls for integrated theories to give more attention to the complexity of abuse dynamics, intersectionality, and how cultural and institutional factors maintain victimhood. This would strengthen prevention by targeting interventions at individual, institutional, and societal levels.
The "Aetiology" of Physical and Sexual Abuse of Children:
- 1. The ‘Aetiology’ of Physical and Sexual Abuse of Children: towards a comprehensive theory of prevention and protection Christine Jones, Julie Taylor, Jon Brown and Zain Kurdi
- 2. Overview of the research Research Questions: 1. What is currently known about the causes and conditions associated with the perpetration of physical and sexual abuse against children? 2. What disciplinary approaches and theoretical orientations are employed by researchers to understand and explain the aetiology of physical and sexual abuse ? 3. To what extent are these approaches compatible when applied to a cross-cutting prevention agenda?
- 3. Method: Literature Reviews • Review of CSA and CPA literature • Two elements: theory and evidence • Searches of computerised databases: ASSIA, Medline, Cinahl plus, IBSS, PsycInfo, PsycArticles • Hand searches of Child Abuse & Neglect, Child Abuse Review, Child Maltreatment, and Trauma, Violence and Abuse • Google scholar search • Reference list searches
- 4. Defining terms and recognising limitations • Focus on CSA and CPA rather than child maltreatment generally • Broad definitions of CSA and CPA used as a starting point • Inclusive approach to capture nuances, commonalities and differences • Focus on ‘integrated theories’ • Commissioned by NSPCC: a UK context
- 5. Integrated theories of CSA • Finkelhor's (1984) Four Precondition Model of CSA • Hall and Hirschman’s (1992) Quadripartite Model of sexual aggression against children • Ward and Siegert's (2002) Pathways Model of CSA • Smallbone, Marshall and Wortley’s (2008) New Integrated Theory of CSA • Marshall and Barbaree’s (1990) Integrated Theory of the Etiology of sexual offending • Ward and Beech’s (2006) Integrated Theory of Sexual Offending (ITSO)
- 6. Integrated theories of CPA • Gil’s (1970) multidimensional model of CPA • Coohey and Braun’s (1997) Integrated Framework for Understanding CPA CPA
- 7. Theorising CPA Family violence Violence against women and girls Child maltreatment CPA
- 8. Some reflections on trajectories of CSA/CPA theory • ‘Integrated frameworks’ less developed in CPA than CSA • Recurrent themes: • (Bio)psychosocial explanations proliferated • Ecological systems approach highly influential (Bronfenbrenner 1979, 1995; Belsky 1980) • Person–situation interactions • Continued importance of psychological theories • CSA/CPA integrated theories remain PARTIAL
- 9. Key limitations within integrated theories • The decentred child • The universal child • The dislocated child
- 10. Key limitation: the decentred child • Mainly theories of being or becoming a ‘perpetrator’ rather than ‘perpetration’ • Child is absent, marginal, ambiguous: a generic victim • Aetiology: causes = blame • Focuses away from victim • Underplays complexity of dynamics of abuse • Person – situation theories more dynamic • feature perpetrator, victim, capable guardian • but latter two positioned as a situational factor
- 11. Key limitation: the universal child • Even within the Criminological theory the victim is sketchily drawn – Ageless, genderless, disembodied • All acknowledge that empirical research tells us differences are part of the dynamics of abuse – Girls between 2 and 5 times more at risk of sexual violence than boys (Stoltenborgh 2011, Finkelhor 2014) – Lgb boys and girls experiencing higher levels of CSA and CPA (Saewyc et al 2006) – Disabled children 3 to 4 times more at risk of abuse (Sullivan and Knutson 2000; Kvam 2004) • But not fully accounted for at theoretical level • Inattention to intersectionality
- 12. Key limitation: the dislocated child • Social/cultural aspects acknowledged but understood differently • Interpersonal factors, cultural factors, structural factors • Target for intervention intimate relationships, cultural beliefs or structural inequalities • Little attention to structural equalities that maintain victimhood (e.g. access to justice) and role of institutions • Feminist theory influential but few attempts to integrated • Need to integrate critical theories re patriarchy, disablism, heterosexism/heteronormativity
- 13. Implications for prevention and protection Strengthening community capacity Tackling structural inequalities Mobilising capable guardians Building resilience of potential victims/perps Promoting prosocial behaviours in perpetrators Individual level interventions Institutional level interventions Situational interventions
- 14. Acknowledgements: Estelle Clayton Research Assistant who joined the project in late 2014 NSPCC Commissioned this research Contact: Chris Jones - c.a.jones@ed.ac.uk Thank you for listening