Psychologicnl Reports, 1979, 44, 994. @ Psychological Reports 1979
CHILD ABUSE AND THE EXCESSIVE CONTROL OF AGGRESSION STEVEN THURBER Boise State University
The understanding of child abuse causation will require careful analyses of the complex reciprocal interactions between abused children and their caretakers. One possible component of that interaction is the concept of overcontrolled hostility. This is the notion that, having excessively high inhibitory processes, e.g., anxiety, some individuals may refrain from voluntarily expressing even mild forms of aggressiveness. The result is the gradual building up of hostile impulses over time, to the extent that violent, uncontrolled behavior may eventually be shown with but minimal provocation (Megargee, 1969). The basic reason for suspecting excessive inhibition as a factor in the etiology of child abuse is that existing data on the personality characteristics of abusing parents simply do not suggest persons with inadequate impulse control or pervasive outward hostility. On the contrary, child abusers generally appear to be somewhat shy and socially withdrawn (see Melnick & Hurley, 1969). A causal link between over-controlled hostility and child abuse would suggest a counter-inmitive approach to therapeutic intervencion. Clearly, given the tenability of the hypothesis of excessive inhibition, therapy designed to increase aggression-related anxiety would compound the problem. The treatment of choice might therefore involve teaching parents to express mild to moderate forms of aggressiveness in socially acceptable ways (see Wolpe, 1969). Empirical assessment is possible and desirable. REFERENCES
MEGARGEE, E. Undercontrolled and overcontrolled personality types in extreme antiica~ 1966, 80, No. 3 (Whole No. 61 1). social aggression. P ~ ~ c h o ~ o gMonographs, MELNICK,B.,& HURLEY,J. Distinctive personality attributes of child-abusing mothers. Journal oJ Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1969. 33, 746-749. WOLPE,J. T h e practice o f behuuior therapy. New York: Pergamon, 1969. ~ c c e p t e dMay 10, 1979.
CHILD ABUSE AND THE EXCESSIVE CONTROL OF AGGRESSION STEVEN THURBER Boise State University
The understanding of child abuse causation will require careful analyses of the complex reciprocal interactions between abused children and their caretakers. One possible component of that interaction is the concept of overcontrolled hostility. This is the notion that, having excessively high inhibitory processes, e.g., anxiety, some individuals may refrain from voluntarily expressing even mild forms of aggressiveness. The result is the gradual building up of hostile impulses over time, to the extent that violent, uncontrolled behavior may eventually be shown with but minimal provocation (Megargee, 1969). The basic reason for suspecting excessive inhibition as a factor in the etiology of child abuse is that existing data on the personality characteristics of abusing parents simply do not suggest persons with inadequate impulse control or pervasive outward hostility. On the contrary, child abusers generally appear to be somewhat shy and socially withdrawn (see Melnick & Hurley, 1969). A causal link between over-controlled hostility and child abuse would suggest a counter-inmitive approach to therapeutic intervencion. Clearly, given the tenability of the hypothesis of excessive inhibition, therapy designed to increase aggression-related anxiety would compound the problem. The treatment of choice might therefore involve teaching parents to express mild to moderate forms of aggressiveness in socially acceptable ways (see Wolpe, 1969). Empirical assessment is possible and desirable. REFERENCES
MEGARGEE, E. Undercontrolled and overcontrolled personality types in extreme antiica~ 1966, 80, No. 3 (Whole No. 61 1). social aggression. P ~ ~ c h o ~ o gMonographs, MELNICK,B.,& HURLEY,J. Distinctive personality attributes of child-abusing mothers. Journal oJ Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1969. 33, 746-749. WOLPE,J. T h e practice o f behuuior therapy. New York: Pergamon, 1969. ~ c c e p t e dMay 10, 1979.
