THE VICTIMIZATION OF CHILDREN - A DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

A framework is presented for a new field called developmental victomol ogy, and two major branches are described. One would analyze developme ntal changes that affect children's risk for victimization, particular ly in three areas: children's suitability as targets, their ability to protect themselves, and the environments they inhabit. A second branc h would focus on developmental processes that affect children's reacti ons to victimizations and in particular, developmental tasks and criti cal periods, the process of cognitive appraisal, and the forms of symp tom expression.