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......
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