Abuse and victimization across the life span /

This timely collection of articles by leading specialists on various forms of family violence is an essential contribution toward an integrated social program for the prevention and deterrence of abuse. A life-span perspective to the understanding of family violence is introduced in a clear and even style that is rare in edited books. This perspective adds new possibilities and obstacles for abusers and victims, bridges gaps between researchers and clinicians, and overcomes the redundancies in the various specialized literatures on child abuse, spouse abuse, and elder abuse. The overall effect is to engender a more realistic view of the family and therefore more effective methods for intervention and prevention. Each chapter includes an extensive list of references. Ten chapters describe abuse at different stages of life; four treat special topics: ethnicity, the disabled, battered women, treatment and prevention. Technical jargon is avoided. This well-edited anthology should be widely used by practitioners, planners, and researchers. Recommended for all readers. -T. Sloan, University of Tulsa