Who is responsible? Adolescents' acceptance of theoretical child abuse models

Three primary theoretical models have been presented to explain child abuse: psychopathological, sociological, and ecological. Four hundred forty-seven later adolescents were surveyed to determine which approach was most consistent with their beliefs, attitudes and opinions. Overwhelmingly, adolescents indicated that their views were most closely aligned with the psychopathological model, followed by the ecological model. Subjects maintained that parental psychological factors and characteristics of victims contributed strongly to maltreatment. Societal factors were perceived as relatively unimportant causative agents or correlates of abuse. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for parent education programs.