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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–3Cite as

Genetic Relatedness and Child Abuse

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Synonyms

Childhood maltreatment; Emotional; Neglect; Physical

Definition

Physical or emotional abuse or neglect to an individual 18 years of age or younger by a parent or parent substitute.

Introduction

Child abuse can be represented in a number of ways: physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, or threats of maltreatment. According to the National Incidence Study (1996) by Sedlak and Broadhurst, physical abuse is anyone 18 years and younger who experienced injury or is/was at the risk of injury by a parent or parent substitute. This involves being hit with a hand or object or being kicked, shaken, thrown, burned, stabbed, or choked. Physical neglect is the harm or endangerment as an effect of inadequate nutrition, clothing, hygiene, and/or supervision. In addition, child abuse can also be emotional abuse, the use of nonphysical punishment or threats of maltreatment or emotional neglect, absence of affection and/or emotional support, or the exposure to...

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References

  • Daly, M., & Wilson, M. (1986). Child abuse and other risks of not living with both parents. Ethology and Sociobiology, 6, 197–210.

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  • Lee, J. S., Bellamy, L. J., & Guterman, B. N. (2009). Fathers, physical child abuse, and neglect: Advancing the knowledge base. Child Maltreatment, 4(3), 227–231.

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  • Sedlak, A. J., & Broadhurst, D. D. (1996). Third national incidence study of child abuse and neglect: Final report. Prepared under contract to the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Rockville: Westat.

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  • Temrin, H., Nordlund, J., Rying, M., & Tullberg, S. B. (2011). Is the higher rate or parental child homicide in stepfamilies an effect of non-genetic relatedness? Current Zoology, 57(3), 253–259.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Carolina – Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Brittany Lorentz

Authors
  1. Brittany Lorentz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brittany Lorentz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Kevin M. Kniffin

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Lorentz, B. (2020). Genetic Relatedness and Child Abuse. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3690-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3690-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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