The social cognitive development of abused children.

Abstract

Previous research on the impact of parental abuse on child development has typically been skewed to the more seriously injured or most socially disadvantaged families. The few studies attending to psychological consequences of abuse have further been limited by a failure to control for potentially confounding intellectual or demographic factors and have been too general in approach to provide effective guidelines for differential diagnosis, treatment, or theory building. The present study compared the social cognitive styles of abused children with a carefully matched control sample and found differences in perceived locus of control of social events and social role comprehensions. Similar trends emerged in perspective-taking skills and social sensitivity. These alternative social cognitions could not be attributed to IQ or class disparities between the groups. The implications of these results for treatment and as a theoretical model for understanding the intergenerational nature of abuse are discussed.