230 likes | 456 Views
Crime, Violence and Abuse in the Lives of Children: Developmental Victimology. David Finkelhor Crimes against Children Research Center University of New Hampshire 5th Violence Prevention Milestones Meeting Cape Town, South Africa 6-7 September 2011. Youth More Victimized. x. 2.0. x.
E N D
Crime, Violence and Abuse in the Lives of Children:Developmental Victimology David Finkelhor Crimes against Children Research Center University of New Hampshire 5th Violence Prevention Milestones Meeting Cape Town, South Africa 6-7 September 2011
Youth More Victimized x 2.0 x 2.3 x 2.9 x 1.9 Children More Victimized than Adults, General Crime 4 3 Youth Risk - Adult Risk (12-17) 2 1 0 Simple Assault Rape Robbery Agg. Assault National Crime Victimization Survey, 2000
Children More Victimized than AdultsUK, 2006 Source: British Crime Survey - Roe & Ashe, 2008
Youth Have More Serious Crime Victimization 15.8 10.1 Youth 5.7 5.7 Youth Adult Adult National Crime Victimization Survey, 2001
Rural Youth More Victimized than Urban Adults Suburban Central City Central City Suburban Small Town / Rural Small Town / Rural Youth (12-17) Adults National Crime Victimization Survey, 2001
Why are Children So Victimized? • Smallness, inexperience, dependency, fewer conflict resolution strategies • Weak norms and sanctions, limited protections • Risky activities, less self-control • Lack of choice over associates
Myths About Violence Against Children • Children less affected by violence • Violence can be positive for children • Violence more mutual among children
Perils of Fragmentation • Underestimates true scope of victimization • Obscures interconnections • Fails to identify most victimized children • Unnecessary competition for scare resources • Reduces policy influence • Reinforces arbitrary distinctions • Ignores children’s own perspective
Family Lethality Gender Differences Stranger/ Acquaintance Weapon 0 18 Age Developmental Aspects of Violence Risk
Younger Older Developmental Aspects ofViolence Impact Attachment Emotional Regulation Cognitive Development Memory Storage & Processing Social Withdrawal Inhibition of Aggression Moral Development Friendship Formation & Acceptance Attributional Biases Academic Performance Self-Esteem Pessimism Social Competence Antisocial Behavior
JVQ Modules JVQ Modules • Module A: Conventional Crime • Robbery • Personal Theft • Vandalism • Assault with Weapon • Assault without Weapon • Attempted Assault • Kidnapping • Bias Attack • Module D: Sexual Victimization • Sexual Assault by Known Adult • Nonspecific Sexual Assault • Sexual Assault by Peer • Rape: Attempted or Completed • Flashing/Sexual Exposure • Verbal Sexual Harassment • Statutory Rape & Sexual Misconduct • Module B: Child Maltreatment • Physical Abuse by Caregiver • Psychological/Emotional Abuse • Neglect • Custodial Interference/Family Abduction • Module E: Witnessing & Indirect Victimization • Witness to Domestic Violence • Witness to Parent Assault of Sibling • Witness to Assault with Weapon • Witness to Assault without Weapon • Burglary of Family Household • Murder of Family Member or Friend • Witness to Murder • Exposure to Random Shootings, Terrorism or Riots • Exposure to War or Ethnic Conflict • Module C: Peer & Sibling Victimization • Gang or Group Assault • Peer or Sibling Assault • Nonsexual Genital Assault • Bullying • Emotional bullying • Dating Violence
“Poly-Victims”: Number of Past Year Victimizations and Trauma Symptoms Poly-victims NATSCEV PY weighted ANOVA includes sex, age, race/ethnicity, family structure and SES.
Sexual Abuse Substantiation Rates: 1990-2009 61% Decline (1992-2009) Rate per 10,000 Children (<18) 5% Decline (2008-2009) Source: NCANDS
Physical Abuse Substantiation Rates: 1990-2009 55% Decline (1992-2009) Rate per 10,000 Children (<18) 0% Decline (2008-2009) Source: NCANDS
PA Sub 1990-2005* FBI Forcible Rape Rate & NCANDS Sexual Abuse Rate1990-2009 Forcible Rape 33% Decline1992 - 2009 59% Decline1990 - 2008 Sexual Abuse *Source: FBI, Crime in the United States Reports and NCANDS
Trends in Children’s Exposure to Violence U.S. Official and Survey Data (36 indicators) (26 indicators) (10 indicators) Sources: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book, NCANDS, National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), School Crime Supplement to the NCVS (SCS), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey (HBSC), Child Trends
Possible Mechanisms Economic improvement Increased agents of social intervention More effective interventions Psychopharmacology Aggressive policing Changing norms and awareness Technology and surveillance
Finkelhor, D. (2008). Childhood victimization: Violence, Crime, and Abuse in the Lives of Young People. New York: Oxford University Press. NEW Daniel Schneider Child Welfare Book of the Year Award
For more information contact: David Finkelhor david.finkelhor@unh.edu http://www.unh.edu/ccrc