Deck 15: Child Maltreatment: When Parenting Goes Awry

Question 1

Who of the following is the most likely perpetrator of child maltreatment?

A) stranger
B) neighbor
C) peer
D) parent

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Identify traits of a "child abusing personality."

A) lack of desire to learn about children
B) research has found no evidence of a "child abusing personality"
C) a quick temper
D) a family history of mental illness

Answer 2

B

Question 3

About 1700 CE, a guidebook for physicians was published that warned that the swelling in infants' heads could be due to dropping the infant or hitting it against something. The swelling is an effect of what is now labeled ______.

A) hydrocephalus
B) shaken baby syndrome
C) failure to thrive
D) diffuse axonal injury

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In colonial America ______ a child was an accepted method to "drive the devil out."

A) shaking
B) abandoning
C) striking
D) yelling at

Question 5

The Roman doctrine of ius primae noctis and the 18th-century French doctrine of the droit du seigneur gave similar rights to the male head of the family. What rights did these doctrines confer?

A) rights regarding the killing of any child in his household
B) rights regarding sexual access to members of his household
C) rights regarding the transfer of property within the household
D) rights regarding the punishment of members of his household

Question 6

Since the late ______ century, there has been a dramatic shift toward empathy for the welfare of children and an awareness of the problem of child abuse.

A) 18th
B) 19th
C) 20th
D) 21st

Question 7

The term maltreatment is preferable to child abuse because it ______.

A) better explains why acts are harmful
B) includes acts of commission and omission
C) does not include unintentional acts
D) includes acts by parents, but not others

Question 8

According to The Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, about ______ children were actually maltreated in 2010.

A) 550,000
B) 1,100, 000
C) 1,250,000
D) 3,500,000

Question 9

Daniel doesn't like the way his wife, Rosa, continually ridicules and shames their children. He knows she goes too far and that her mean words cause them a high level of distress, but he stays out of it to keep their arguments to a minimum. In this scenario who, if anyone, is guilty of child maltreatment?

A) Rosa, because she was inflicting psychological maltreatment.
B) Daniel, because he did not stop the ongoing maltreatment of the children.
C) Neither Rosa nor Daniel maltreated their children because no one was hit.
D) Both Rosa and Daniel maltreated their children because each caused harm.

Question 10

The most extensively studied form of child maltreatment is ______.

A) physical abuse
B) sexual abuse
C) psychological maltreatment
D) neglect

Question 11

When a caregiver (usually the mother) intentionally makes a child ill and then seeks medical attention, this form of physical child abuse is now labeled ______.

A) Munchausen syndrome
B) Hypochondriasis syndrome
C) Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another
D) Valetudinis disorder

Question 12

In the case of child abuse fatalities, at least one of the parents was responsible for ______ of the fatalities in 2006.

A) 50%
B) 65%
C) 80%
D) 95%

Question 13

Which of the following variables put parents at greater risk to become perpetrators of child abuse?

A) average problem-solving skills
B) adequate parenting knowledge
C) high expectations about children
D) diagnosable mental illness

Question 14

Risk factors for physical abuse include all but ______.

A) difficult child temperament
B) a mother with emotional problems
C) an overcontrolling father
D) exposed to partner violence

Question 15

Medea syndrome refers to cases ______.

A) when a parent retaliates against the other parent by killing the child
B) when a parent retaliates against the other parent by injuring the child
C) when a parent attempts to control the other parent by killing the child
D) when a parent attempts to control the other parent by injuring the child

Question 16

An ecological model of child maltreatment typically includes all but ______.

A) individual characteristics
B) situational characteristics
C) relationships
D) community and societal factors

Question 17

When comparing mothers and fathers who kill their children, what did Wilczynski (1997) determine about the role of discipline?

A) It was a reason only for mothers who killed their children.
B) It was a reason only for fathers who killed their children.
C) It was a reason that occurred about equally often for both mothers and fathers.
D) It almost never a reason for mothers or fathers.

Question 18

Camilla is 10 years old. She has three younger siblings who depend on her to fix their meals and make sure they get to school. Camilla is left in charge because her single mother works two jobs to pay the rent and provide food for the family. Sometimes there is not enough food for the family. Which of the following statements best describes Camilla's situation?

A) Camilla and her siblings are suffering from physical neglect.
B) Camilla and her siblings are probably experiencing physical abuse.
C) Camilla and her siblings are probably experiencing psychological maltreatment.
D) Camilla's mother has no better option for the care of the children, so no abuse is occurring.

Question 19

Karen and Bill were professionals who lived in a spacious home. While they were entertaining guests one evening, their 2-year-old child climbed into a hot tub and drowned. Karen and Bill were guilty of ______.

A) physical abuse of their child
B) physical neglect of their child
C) supervisory neglect of their child
D) bad judgment, but not of child maltreatment

Question 20

When parents fail to seek medical help for their children, even though they have the money to pay for the care, the most likely reason ______.

A) is a cultural or religious belief that conflicts with medical intervention
B) is a desire to save financial resources for other possible emergency needs
C) a rational belief that medical intervention is more likely to do harm than heal the child
D) an unwillingness to provide personal information to a medical care provider

Question 21

Nonorganic failure to thrive is likely a consequence of which type of maltreatment?

A) physical
B) neglect
C) sexual
D) psychological

Question 22

What type of memory is implicated when a parent forgets and leaves a child in a hot car?

A) episodic memory
B) procedural memory
C) recall memory
D) prospective memory

Question 23

Which is NOT a type of neglect?

A) physical
B) educational
C) medical
D) nutritional

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of neglectful parenting?

A) a parent's own developmental history
B) a difficult child
C) poor psychological functioning
D) unusual beliefs

Question 25

Which part the brain is NOT thought to be affected by maltreatment?

A) cerebellum
B) cingulate gyrus
C) amygdala
D) hippocampus

Question 26

Maltreated children are least likely to have problems in which area?

A) behavioral
B) emotional
C) cognitive
D) self-regulatory

Question 27

In the case of extreme neglect, if an infant's brain does not get adequate stimulation or does not receive sufficient nurturance, it will likely suffer damage that is ______.

A) negligible
B) slow to repair
C) irreversible
D) quickly repaired

Question 28

Dorothy, a daughter of affluent parents, has behavioral and emotional problems. Her parents are workaholics and emotionally unavailable. Dorothy is likely a victim of ______.

A) emotional neglect
B) sexual abuse
C) psychological abuse
D) physical abuse

Question 29

In as many as 90% of the child sexual abuse cases, the victim knows the perpetrator. Among the following, ______ are most likely to be male perpetrators.

A) cousins
B) siblings
C) uncles
D) biological fathers

Question 30

Which of following children is most at risk for sexual abuse?

A) Susan, a 4-year-old girl
B) Jill, a 7-year-old girl
C) Nancy, a 10-year-old girl
D) Brenda, a 13-year-old girl

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a common consequence of sexual abuse?

A) post-traumatic stress disorder
B) failure to thrive
C) dissociation
D) dissociative identity disorder

Question 32

Melanie was sexually abused by her older cousin when she was 12 years old. To help Melanie recover, her mother should ______.

A) tell her to put it out of her mind and move on with her life
B) believe her daughter's unprompted disclosure
C) point out Melanie's responsibility for causing her cousin's behavior
D) encourage her to make peace with her cousin for the family's sake

Question 33

A review, published in a prestigious review journal, reported that individuals who were sexually abused as children did not show pervasive negative effects by the time they were in college. The review prompted a storm of controversy and even received a condemnation from the U.S. Congress. After reviews by several research committees, the conclusion was that ______.

A) the original meta-analysis was flawed; however, more recent research has revealed similar conclusions
B) the original interpretation was correct; victims of abuse usually overcome any initial problems with few long-term effects
C) the original interpretation was correct; in fact, early abuse inoculates children from other negative influences and often leads to success in future endeavors
D) the original interpretation was significantly flawed; sexual abuse is damaging to a child--even if some survivors go on to college

Question 34

When a child discloses sexual abuse, which of the following actions should NOT be taken by the parents?

A) believe their child's disclosure
B) keep the child safe from the perpetrator
C) question the accused assailant
D) minimize the child's cognitive distortions

Question 35

If a parent repeatedly conveys to a child that she or he is unloved, that parent is guilty of ______.

A) withdrawal of affection from the child
B) psychological maltreatment of the child
C) emotional dysregulation of the child
D) nothing more than being mean to the child

Question 36

Even though ______ comprises only 6.2% of the substantiated child maltreatment cases, many experts think it is actually the most widespread form of maltreatment.

A) physical neglect
B) child sexual abuse
C) psychological maltreatment
D) physical abuse

Question 37

Kerry is the scapegoat in her family. Every time something bad happens, Kerry is the one held responsible--even when her siblings are at fault. Which of the following statements describes the effects of this psychological treatment?

A) Kerry is experiencing life! There's always one family member who takes the blame.
B) Kerry is at high risk for being negatively impacted by this psychological maltreated.
C) Kerry's mother could use some sensitivity training, but Kerry is unlikely to be negatively affected by her mother's actions.
D) Kerry's self-concept formation will likely be delayed until she is able to form healthy peer relationships.

Question 38

Lalu was born in China in the late 19th century. During a terrible time of poverty and hardship, her father sold her for two bags of seed. Which of the following statements provides the most likely answer for why the man sold his daughter?

A) By selling his one child, the loving father hoped to save the rest of his children.
B) The father had little love for Lalu because she was a girl.
C) The father preferred keeping his younger children because they required less food and care.
D) By selling his one child, the father hoped to encourage his younger children to work hard on the family farm.

Question 39

A study of 8,667 adults investigated reports of childhood maltreatment and current mental health. About one third of the adults reported multiple forms of maltreatment. Which of the following statements best describes the effects on those adults who suffered various levels of maltreatment (no maltreatment to all three forms of maltreatment)?

A) The data revealed an occurrence/no occurrence dichotomy. Once the first abuse was suffered, there was no additional effect from additional abuse.
B) The data supported a "dose-response" view of the effects of maltreatment. The more the abuse, the worse the outcome.
C) The data indicated that the first and second abuse had additive effects, but that a third type of abuse had no additional effect.
D) The data revealed a curvilinear effect of abuse. Those victims who experienced two types of abuse had higher rates of negative response than those victims who experienced one or three types of abuse.

Question 40

Calling a child "dummy," "ugly," and "worthless" are examples of ______.

A) terrorizing
B) spurning
C) critiquing
D) degrading

Question 41

Which is the most common form of child trafficking?

A) farm labor
B) sexual exploitation
C) child soldier
D) domestic workers

Question 42

One limitation of the child maltreatment research is that the ______.

A) researchers often classify child maltreatment incidents into the wrong category
B) researchers have great difficulty being objective about null results
C) co-occurrence of multiple forms of abuse have been often overlooked
D) co-occurrence of multiple forms of abuse have been greatly exaggerated

Question 43

Poly-victimization means a child had experienced at least ______.

A) two forms of abuse
B) three forms of abuse
C) four forms of abuse
D) five forms of abuse

Question 44

The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System relies on data from all but ______.

A) schools
B) hospitals
C) parents
D) police

Question 45

How would you characterize the change, over the decade, in the U.S. rate of child maltreatment?

A) There has been a steep decline.
B) There has been a modest decline.
C) There rate has stayed about the same.
D) There has been an increase.

Question 46

How does the rate of child maltreatment in the United States compare with other nations?

A) The United States has among the lowest rates of maltreatment.
B) The United States rates tend to fall around the middle.
C) The United States has among the highest rates of maltreatment.
D) There is not enough good data to answer that question.

Question 47

Based on risk assessments and other considerations, about ______ of child victims are removed from their home and placed in foster care.

A) one fifth
B) one quarter
C) half
D) two thirds

Question 48

Foster parenting sometimes fails. Which is NOT a reason for that?

A) Foster parents need to navigate the complex foster care system.
B) Foster parents are not paid enough.
C) Foster parents are not committed to the task.
D) Foster children often have special needs.

Question 49

Child Advocacy Centers are child-friendly houses where children who are victims of sexual abuse undergo a single interview (rather than many) and medical exam (if needed). The interviews are recorded by specially trained professionals and the victim's cases are handled by multidisciplinary teams. The primary goal of the centers is to ______.

A) reduce the cost of prosecuting child abuse perpetrators
B) to increase foster care to support abuse victims
C) minimize re-traumatizing the child survivors of sexual abuse
D) maximize the likelihood that children will remember the abuse

Question 50

Which of the following was NOT mentioned by Kendall-Tackett as a pathway by which maltreatment affects children's health?

A) neurological
B) behavioral
C) cognitive
D) social

Question 51

The abduction of a child by a stranger is extremely rare.

Question 52

Neonaticide is defined as killing a child in the first week of life.

Question 53

Neglect makes up about three fourths of child maltreatment cases.

Question 54

Parents are the perpetrators of physical abuse in 95% of the cases.

Question 55

In a study of child sexual abuse in New Zealand, uncles were found to be the most common male perpetrator.

Question 56

It is estimated that 7.8 million children are held in slavery.

Question 57

Childhood adversities have resulted in a dose-response relation with outcomes.

Question 58

Family preservation can pose a risk for a child protection.

Question 59

The cost of child maltreatment is estimated to be under $200,000 per child.

Question 60

Sadly, there are many ways in which parents physically abuse their children. Give three examples of this type of abuse.

Question 61

Identify the four types of factors that combine to result in child abuse, according to the model presented in the text.

Question 62

There are four main forms of child neglect. Pick two; describe them and the signs of a child being neglected this way.

Question 63

Psychologists have identified many negative behavioral or emotional results of childhood sexual abuse. Identify five.

Question 64

What are five reasons why parents psychologically abuse their offspring?