In the past, males were, by far, more dominant socially and in the household. As time goes by, women gain more independence both financially and emotionally. Burgess and Draper believe that this can cause some men to behave in the same way as if the were ecologically unstable. The break down of social norms can be rough for a person raised to live in that context because they may feel just as threatened as when their economic job is taken away. In the same way, decreases in family resources lead to uncertainty and disintegration of normal social control mechanisms as they did in the case of the Hughes when Mickey lost his job and as Francine started to gain independence by going to school.
Economic instability can also be a direct cause for child maltreatment.
This is a very barbaric principle and does not reflect the cultural norms of today's American society. Undoubtedly, in some places, this may occur but the maltreatment of the Hughes children did not come in this form. As the social or family structure is changing, Burgess and Draper suggest a few common feelings that men in particular may encounter. The first feeling is anxiety. Change brings uncertainty especially if the person in question is not directly influencing the change.