Enforced social isolation as a contributory factor in child abuse

Abstract

Fifty-one cases of child abuse and neglect dealt with by the courts in England and Wales in 1973–1976 were examined. The cases were 24 cases of gross neglect, 3 cases of manslaughter and 24 cases of actual bodily harm. From a detailed series of interviews it was found that a majority of the cases (92%) involved the parents locking their child away on their own for long periods of time. This enforced social isolation of the child appears to reflect the parents' use of physical means of disciplining and their lack of understanding of what young children can achieve developmentally. It is hypothesised that after long periods of social isolation the child may become disoriented and “ anti-social,” unable to play with other children and will experience moderate to severe temper tantrums. The parents control the child by isolating him further and eventually they begin to think of the child as a “ non-person ” —someone who can be abused. Enforced social isolation of the child may thus be seen as a contributory factor in cases of child abuse.