A NORTH-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN

Psychological maltreatment may be the most common form of abuse suffer ed by North American children within the family environment. However, little effort has been directed towards eliminating and preventing it. The present article emphasizes the importance of thoroughly understan ding the phenomenon so that effective intervention strategies can be d eveloped. North American research studies of child maltreatment are re viewed and discussed with particular emphasis placed upon the manifest ations of psychological maltreatment, the scope and the consequences o f the problem, and the identification of associated risk factors. The paper identifies several areas for improvement before successful inter ventions can be conceptualized.