Understanding and Reporting Child Abuse: Legal and Psychological Perspectives. Part One: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Neglect

This is the first of two articles for mandated child maltreatment reporters on issues surrounding the definitions, origins, and effects of child maltreatment. The present article considers physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect (abuse by omission). The second article considers emotional abuse and secondary child abuse, which occurs when caretakers allow children to observe other family members engaging in aggressive behavior.