Abuse in Society

Book excerpt: Today’s headlines are filled with increasingly alarming accounts of abuse by coaches, religious leaders, institutional caregivers, family members, and others. Abuse in Society provides an illuminating and timely introduction to the physical, emotional/psychological, and sexual faces of abuse. The text presents a much-needed, in-depth assessment of child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, abuse by clergy, abuse of the elderly and disabled, and abuse in sports. Among the specific problems covered are bullying and sibling abuse, courtship violence and date rape, and abuse in the relationships of sexual minorities. The author explores these complex issues using an ecological approach, examining interacting explanations from a variety of perspectives and levels of analysis: societal and cultural, family, and individual. The author’s down-to-earth, conversational style is easy to understand, and his work is exceptionally well researched and thoroughly documented. Those who are pursuing careers in the fields of sociology, psychology, psychiatry, and human-service professions such as social work, pastoral counseling, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, and psychiatric nursing will find this text valuable. End-of-chapter resources include a Review Guide, Critical Thinking Questions, Recommended Reading, Internet Resources, and Suggested Activities.