Defining Family Violence
 

I.  Questions to be considered when composing or evaluating a definition of Family Violence

    A.  What kinds of behaviors are included in the definition (Physical, Sexual, Emotional abuse?  Neglect?  Verbal Abuse?)

    B.    Must the act result in harm?

    C.    Is intent necessary according to the definition?

II.  Examining Definitions of Abuse and Violence

        A.    Child Abuse:

clinical condition, with diagnosable medical and physical symptoms, caused by physical assault intended to cause injury. (C. Henry Kempe, 1962)
 

 Child Abuse and neglect means the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen, or the age specified by the child protection law of the State in question, by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby…. (1974 Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, amended in 1978)

 Any act carried out with the intention or perceived intention of physically hurting another person (Strauss, Gelles and Steinmetz)

Family violence includes any act of commissionor omission by family members, and any conditions resulting from such acts or inaction, which deprive other family members of equal rights, liberties, and/or interfere with their optimal development and freedom of choice (Pagelow)

E.  Family Violence:

Family violence includes family members' acts of omission or commission resulting in physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, or other forms of maltreatment that hamper individuals' healthy development (Levesque, cited in Barnett, Miller-Perrin, and Perrin, p. 17)

III.  Should We Distinguish Between Family Violence and Family Maltreatment?