Child abuse potential, attributions of intent, stable/unstable, global/specific, and internal/external locus of control, and the effects of mitigating information

Includes bibliographical references (pages [118]-129)Subjects at risk for physical child abuse (n = 28) and not at risk for abuse (n = 28) were presented positive and negative vignettes concerning their own or someone else's child. In addition the vignettes were either mitigating or not mitigating. Dependent variables were internal/external, stable/unstable/, global/specific, and intentional/unintentional attributions. Subjects were also measured on an affective measure: pleasing/annoying. Compared to not at risk subjects, subjects at risk for physical child abuse were shown to experience less attributional change as a result of mitigating information being provided in the vignettes. This effect ocurred regardless of whether the vignettes were positive or negative, or about their own or someone else's child.M.A. (Master of Arts