Doerner: Victimology, 6th Edition - Case Studies with Questions and Answers

Case Studies with Questions and Answers

Chapter 10: Child Maltreatment

A mother and a child's guardian (mother's live-in boyfriend) were arrested on charges after their seven-year-old boy was found nearly dead, weighing only 24 pounds, and tied down to his bed in their rural North Carolina home. The sheriff's department responded to the home after concerned neighbors had called the police stating they had witnessed the family's other three children regularly leaving the residence but had not seen the youngest child for some years. The child was immediately removed from the family, and both guardians were charged with several counts of child abuse, child neglect, and one attempted murder charge as a result of the neglect. The child was rushed to the local emergency room weighing less than 25 pounds and suffering from severe dehydration. The child was in critical condition, but after a four-week stay in the hospital he had gained significant weight and was expected to make a full recovery.

The family admits to restraining the child to the bed in the child's room as a way to punish him for bad behavior. The guardians stated this was a result of his poor behavior, and that an eating disorder prevented him from eating normally. However, the family could produce no documented proof of an eating disorder. County records produced no school attendance records, and a hospital spokeswoman stated this was first time the child had been admitted to their facility. The family's three other children had been taken into to protective custody, and authorities are still investigating their role in the crime. Using the information obtained from the chapter, answer the following questions.

Questions

What theories best address the criminal actions?

Correct Answer

The intraindividual approach views child maltreatment as theproduct of some internal defect or flaw inside the abuser. This personality deficiency leads "to a lack of inhibition in expressing frustration and other impulsive behaviors." The parents in this situation, however, had kids who were not abused, so why was only one child singled out?

What are some issues with discovering these abusive actions?

Correct Answer

Reporting issues are limited by society. With probation and social services departments so understaffed and overworked, it is difficult to address each case on an individual basis. In this incidence, without doctor visits, dentist visits, and other scenarios with public interaction, the discovery of the abused child is difficult.

What is a major concern for the other three remaining children of the family?

Correct Answer

If the guardians went unpunished or if the crime would never have been discovered, the three remaining children in the household may have viewed this as acceptable behavior and proper child care (see social learning theory).