The Cycle of Child Abuse

Children depend on parents and caregivers to look after them through childhood. Being protective is considered natural and instinctive and most children are well cared for by their parents. However, there are some children for whom a parents instinctive desire to protect is unrealized and children are thereby exposed to the risk of child abuse. Thus begins the cycle of abuse, which, once started, cannot be stopped.

Determining and moderating the causes of child abuse have been central objectives in all research, theory and methods of intervention in this complex area (Gelles and Loseke 1993). A recurrent theme in the child abuse literature for some time has been the notion that it is maltreated children who become abusive parents. It is hypothesized that children may learn to be abusive from parents who model abusive behavior. Alternative explanations have been that some children may have a genetic predisposition for aggressive behavior which is transformed into child abuse when the child becomes an adult. It may also be that intergenerational transmission is caused by a combination of genetic and social influences.

Domestic violence affects every member of the family, including children. It creates a home environment where children live in constant fear. Children who