[The psychodynamics of violence against children (author's transl)]

It was attempted to describe some important aspects of the complicated psychodynamics of violence against children. The empirical research has still the task to solve many essential problems concerning this subject. Nevertheless we can conclude from our knowledge we gained up to now, that great attention has to be paid to the psychodynamics in all therapeutic, preventive and legislative initiatives, which concern the problem of battered child syndrom and physical punishment. This is necessary in order to focus on a symptom only, that is the flogging of children, but to influence the psychodynamic conditions as well.