    STUDY OF FAMILY INTERACTION LEAD TO NEW UNDERSTANDING OF  ABUSIVE
    PARENTS

           Researchers  at  the  University  of  Toronto  have  taken
    important steps toward producing a profile of an abusive  parent.
    Prof.  Gary Walters and doctoral student Lynn  Oldershaw  of  the
    Department of Psychology have developed a system to  characterize
    parents  who  physically  abuse  their  children.    This   could
    ultimately  allow  social  service  professionals   to   identify
    parents in child abuse.

          Over the last  five  years,   Walters  and  Oldershaw,   in
    collaboration with Darlene Hall of the  West  End  Creche,   have
    examined  over  100  mothers  and  their  three  to  six-year-old
    children who have been physically abused.  In the laboratory, the
    mother and child spend 30 minutes in structured  activities  such
    as playing,  eating and cleaning-up.  The family  interaction  is
    video-taped and later analyzed.

          The researchers have developed a system which  allows  them
    to record  the  effectiveness  of  parenting  skills.   They  are
    particularly interested in disciplinary strategies because  abuse
    most commonly occurs when the parent wants the child  to  comply.
    "It's a question of trying to  determine  which  type  of  parent
    produces which type of child  or  which  type  of  child  elicits
    which type of parental behaviour," explains Oldershaw.

          As a result of their  work,   Walters  and  Oldershaw  have
    identified distinct  categories  of  abusive  parents  and  their
    children.  'Harsh/intrusive' mothers are  excessively  harsh  and
    constantly badger their child to behave.  Despite the  fact  that
    these mothers humiliate and disapprove of their child,  there are
    times when they hug,  kiss or speak to them warmly.  This type of
    mothering produces an aggressive, disobedient child.

           A  'covert/hostile'  mother  shows  no  positive  feelings
    towards her child.  She makes  blatant  attacks  on  the  child's
    self-worth and denies him affection or attention.  For his  part,
    the child tries to engage his  mother's  attention  and  win  her
    approval.

           An  'emotionally  detached'   mother   has   very   little
    involvement  with  her  child.    She   appears   depressed   and
    uninterested in the child's activities.  The child of  this  type
    of mother displays no characteristics which set  him  apart  from
    other children.

          In order to put together  a  parenting  profile,   the  two
    researchers  examine  the  mother/child  interaction  and   their
    perception and feelings.  For instance,   Walters  and  Oldershaw
    take into account the mother's sense of herself as a  parent  and
    her impression  of  her  child.   The  researchers  also  try  to
    determine the child's perception of himself  or  herself  and  of
    the  parent.   Abusive  parents  are  often  believed   to   have
    inadequate parenting skills  and  are  referred  to  programs  to
    improve  these   skills.    These   programs   are   particularly
    appropriate for parents who,  themselves,  were raised by abusive
    parents and as a  result  are  ignorant  of  any  other  behavior
    toward her child.

          One of  the  goals  of  the  psychologists  is  to  provide
    information to therapists which will help tailor therapy  to  the
    individual needs of the abusive parents.  "Recidivism  rates  for
    abusive care-givers are high," says Walters.  "To a large extent,
    abusive parents which require a variety  of  treatment.  "  Their
    research  is  funded  by  the  Social  Sciences  and   Humanities
    Research Council. 


    Contact:
          Gary Walters (416)978-7814
          Lynn Oldershaw (416)978-3528
