SAGE Journal Articles

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Article 1: Doyle, C. (2001). Surviving and coping with emotional abuse in childhood. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 6, 387–402.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss the various intervention and prevention efforts that have been developed to address child psychological maltreatment including evidence of their effectiveness.
Summary: Interviews with 14 adults who experienced significant emotional abuse in childhood were conducted to identify the external factors in helping them cope with their abuse. The nonabusing parent was not one of these factors identified. Other family members, friends, teachers, professionals, nonhuman factors (pets, toys, books) were identified as important. Implications of these findings for intervention are discussed.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why do you think the non-abusing parent was not identified as one of the factors to help the individual cope?
  2. What would be challenges to replicating this study?
  3. How do you think the type of abuse experienced by the participants in the study affects their current romantic relationships? Relationships with their children?

Article 2: Twaite, J. A., & Rodriguez-Srednicki, O. (2004). Understanding and reporting child abuse: Legal and psychological perspectives: Part two: Emotional abuse and secondary abuse. The Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 32, 443–481.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the definition and scope of child psychological maltreatment including problems inherent in measuring this form of abuse.
Summary: The article describes the seriousness and prevalence of emotional and secondary child abuse and with the issues surrounding the reporting of such abuse.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why is reporting emotional abuse challenging?
  2. Why and how does emotional abuse occur?
  3. Does the prevalence of emotional abuse surprise you? Why or why not? Do you think the rates of emotional abuse is accurate?