Violence in children and adolescents is a compilation of sensitive and informative writing by experts in the disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy and criminology. These variables or 'risk factors' explaining violence are not readily discernible, as children who inflict or are subject to violence are often traumatised and confused without the cognitive skills to realise the severity of such experiences. Thus, the value of the work lies in its rejection of traditional paternalistic attitudes to children through its promotion of assessment and treatment models that dismantle barriers to effective adult-child communication. Violence in children and adolescents raises ethical as well as methodological issues. Throughout the work the limitations of the family as a socialising agency are revealed.
Many families are ill-equipped for the responsibility of socialising children.
Poverty, marital conflict or unresolved parental trauma from violence affect parenting. Anecdotal accounts of the experience and history of actual childhood violence confront and disturb the reader throughout this anthology which will certainly enhance individual awareness of their own proclivity for violence. At the same time, society is shown to bear a definite responsibility for generating violence - and hence for curbing it. Review focuses on writings in book or other format and of interest to the legal profession. While the law will take priority, writings on politics, economics, history and travel as well as biography, will also be given coverage.