An up-to-date analysis of the factors contributing to abuse This newly revised edition of a classic in the field of child abuseand neglect presents effective guidelines for prevention, protection, and rehabilitation. Compelling and compassionate, this book explores why and howfamilies become abusive. It then offers both the wisdom andspecific clinical interventions that will aid in the understandingof abuser and victim. Understanding Abusive Families offers cutting-edge information andprescriptions for change reagrding: * the patterns of incidence and prevalence * the community context of child abuse and the issue of socialsupport * psychological and sexual maltreatment * child abuse in institutional families * the special issues involved in adolescent maltreatment