Once a subject little noticed, and when noticed, left unspoken, child abuse has recently gained much public attention. In the thirty-seven chapters, this volume provides a comprehensive investigation of the many facets of parental abuse and neglect of children.

Among the topics considered are historical perspectives on child abuse, social sanctions against it, and the characteristics both of abusive parents and of the children they victimize. Also discussed are the developmental effects-- physical, mental, and emotional-- of abuse and the management, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Since its original publication in 1980, this volume has become a standard reference work on the subjects of child abuse and neglect. Now revised and abridged to make it more suitable for classroom use, the paperback edition contains a new preface and revised chapter introductions.