Type:	Journal Article
Title:	The effect of child abuse and other family violence on the child protection worker and case management
Other Titles:	Australian social work
Authors:	Stanley, Janet Goddard, Chris
Keywords:	Theories of violence;Child protection
Year:	1993
Publisher:	Australian Association of Social Workers
Citation:	46 (3), September 1993
Notes:	Provides a background to and outline of an emerging theory used to explain the incidence of re-abuse and/or homicide following referral to a child protection agency. ‘Hostage theory’ posits that a child protection worker’s fear of reprisal from the perpetrator combines with contextual factors to limit their capacity to fully assess the level of risk to which a child is exposed because they react to the threat by identifying with the abuser and intellectualising the situation. The findings of an exploratory study in Victoria conducted to test this theory are presented and it is suggested that the results exhibit a tendency, amongst child protection workers, to minimise the high levels of violence occurring in families. Because this is often done at an unconscious level, it is contended that the hostage theory may provide a tentative explanation for the patterns found.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12274
ISSN:	0312-407X
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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