Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
07:36
An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Toxic Knowledge: Self-Alteration Through Child Abuse Work
Laura I Sigad1, Jonathan Davidov2, Rachel Lev-Wiesel3
1University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Israel laura.sigad@gmail.com.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|November 9, 2014
Summary
Child abuse intervention professionals experience profound personal life changes due to their work. This knowledge is toxic, altering self-perception and parental identity, impacting family dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
Background:
- Professionals in child abuse intervention face unique challenges impacting their personal lives.
- Understanding the integration of work experiences into personal and family domains is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how involvement in child abuse intervention and prevention affects professionals' private lives.
- To develop a model illustrating how professionals conceptualize and integrate these experiences.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive-phenomenological perspective.
- Qualitative data from 40 in-depth interviews with professionals.
Main Results:
- Internalizing child abuse knowledge occurs in two domains: affirming/denying the phenomenon and coping strategies.
- Knowledge of child abuse acts as a catalyst, altering self-perception and parental identity.
- A typology of self-alteration and its mechanisms are presented.
Conclusions:
- Professionals' private lives are significantly impacted by their work with child abuse.
- Child abuse knowledge can be 'toxic,' leading to fundamental changes in identity.
- Understanding these changes is vital for supporting professionals in this field.
Related Concept Videos
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
01:36Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:26Toxic Reactions: Overview
When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.
01:14Impression Management Techniques IV: Altercasting
Altercasting is a strategic communication technique in which an individual imposes a specific identity or social role onto another person to influence their behavior and shape the interaction. By presuming a role—such as “responsible leader” or “patient person”—altercasting encourages the target to conform to that identity, often aligning their behavior with the expectations associated with the role. The power of this tactic lies in its subtlety; once a role is assigned, it becomes socially...