PII S1359-1789(98)00023-8 ARE CHILDREN EXPOSED TO INTERPARENTAL VIOLENCE BEING PSYCHOLOGICALLY MALTREATED?

ABSTRACT. Research on childhood witnessing of interparental violence is reviewed. Evidence is presented as to the severe developmental damages the witnessing covictims often sustain. These include: depression, anxiety, cognitive problems, delinquency, and proneness to violence and victimization. Parental failure to shield children from such traumatizing experiences constitutes child maltreatment in that it exposes the victims to (a) terrorizing, and (b) missocializing by corrupting models. Psychological maltreatment is even more potentially damaging than direct physical abuse or neglect alone. In light of the ambiguity in de®ning caregiver acts of psychological maltreatment, cases in which children have regularly watched wife battering are easier to identify than other forms of psychological maltreatment. Child protection agencies must give priority to responding to cases of psycho-logical maltreatment of children. 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. KEY WORDS. Psychological maltreatment, spouse abuse, witnessing violence, child abuse, battered women LAST YEAR I (ES) was consulted by Israel's National Council for the Child (INCC) in a criminal case handled by the Tel Aviv District Attorney's of®ce. The defendant was a 28-year-old male who lived separately from his estranged wife and their 4-year-old son. He was tried for aggravated assault, rape, and sodomy. The brutal attack occurred as the petri®ed child looked on. I was asked by INCC to opine on the following question: ªDoes battering and raping a mother in the presence of her observing son constitute psychological child maltreatment?º This review article presents the outcome of the literature search I performed prior to my submission of the position article (Somer, 1997)