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Science 14 April 1989:
Vol. 244. no. 4901, pp. 160 - 166
DOI: 10.1126/science.2704995

Articles

Science, Vol 244, Issue 4901, 160-166
Copyright © 1989 by American Association for the Advancement of Science


articles

The cycle of violence

CS Widom

Department of Criminal Justice, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.

Despite widespread belief that violence begets violence, methodological problems substantially restrict knowledge of the long-term consequences of childhood victimization. Empirical evidence for this cycle of violence has been examined. Findings from a cohort study show that being abused or neglected as a child increases one's risk for delinquency, adult criminal behavior, and violent criminal behavior. However, the majority of abused and neglected children do not become delinquent, criminal, or violent. Caveats in interpreting these findings and their implications are discussed in this article.


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Child Maltreatment and Adjustment to Juvenile Correctional Institutions.
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Risk of Repeat Offending Among Violent Female Offenders With Psychotic and Personality Disorders.
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Role of Genotype in the Cycle of Violence in Maltreated Children.
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Science 297, 851-854
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Child Maltreat 7, 226-240
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Characteristics of Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse Who Have Been Sexually Victimized as Children.
J. Craissati, G. McClurg, and K. Browne (2002)
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment 14, 225-239
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The Relationship Between Family of Origin Violence and Dating Violence in College Men.
J. L. Carr and K. M. Vandeusen (2002)
J Interpers Violence 17, 630-646
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Policy Implications Relating to Inmate Mothers and their Children: Will the Past be Prologue?.
L. P. Dalley (2002)
The Prison Journal 82, 234-268
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Effect of Abuse in Childhood and in Adolescence on Violence among Adolescents.
B. B. BENDA and R. F. CORWYN (2002)
Youth Society 33, 339-365
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Link between Recurrent Maltreatment and Offending Behaviour.
C. E. Hamilton, L. Falshaw, and K. D. Browne (2002)
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol 46, 75-94
   Abstract »    PDF »
The employee victim of violence: Recognizing the impect of untreated psychological trauma.
R. B. Flannery Jr. (2001)
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 16, 230-233
   Abstract »    PDF »
Barriers to Domestic Violence Screening in the Pediatric Setting.
M. J. Erickson, T. D. Hill, and R. M. Siegel (2001)
Pediatrics 108, 98-102
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Need to Address Bullying--An Important Component of Violence Prevention.
H. Spivak and D. Prothrow-Stith (2001)
JAMA 285, 2131-2132
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Policy and Politics.
(2001)
Health Promot Pract 2, 27-31
   PDF »
The (Un)Acceptability of Violence against Peers and Dates.
E. Cauffman, S. S. Feldman, L. A. Jensen, and J. J. Arnett (2000)
Journal of Adolescent Research 15, 652-673
   Abstract »    PDF »
A Closer Look at the Drug Abuse--Maternal Aggression Link.
D. HIEN and T. HONEYMAN (2000)
J Interpers Violence 15, 503-522
   Abstract »    PDF »
Identification of Domestic Violence in the Community Pediatric Setting: Need to Protect Mothers and Children.
R. J. Wright (2000)
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 154, 431-433
   Full Text »    PDF »
The Effects of Maltreatment and Family Structure on Minor and Serious Delinquency.
C. Heck and A. Walsh (2000)
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol 44, 178-193
   Abstract »    PDF »
Cycles of Pain: Risk Factors in the Lives of Incarcerated Mothers and Their Children.
S. GREENE, C. HANEY, and A. HURTADO (2000)
The Prison Journal 80, 3-23
   Abstract »    PDF »
Childhood Maltreatment, PTSD, and Suicidal Behavior Among African American Females.
M. P. THOMPSON, N. J. KASLOW, D. B. LANE, and J. B. KINGREE (2000)
J Interpers Violence 15, 3-15
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Psychological Typology of Criminal Homicidal Aggression.
J. A. Kudryavtsev and N. A. Ratinova (1999)
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol 43, 459-472
   Abstract »    PDF »
Clinical Prediction of Assaultive Behavior Among Male Psychiatric Patients at a Maximum-Security Forensic Facility.
M. J. Hoptman, K. F. Yates, M. B. Patalinjug, R. C. Wack, and A. Convit (1999)
Psychiatr Serv 50, 1461-1466
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Childhood Victimization, Running Away, and Delinquency.
J. G. KAUFMAN and C. S. WIDOM (1999)
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 36, 347-370
   Abstract »    PDF »
Victims as Victimizers: Physical Aggression by Persons With a History of Childhood Abuse.
J. Clarke, M. D. Stein, M. Sobota, M. Marisi, and L. Hanna (1999)
Arch Intern Med 159, 1920-1924
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Abused and Neglected Children Grown Up.
C. S. Widom (1999)
Am J Psychiatry 156, 1223-1229
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Childhood Maltreatment Increases Risk for Personality Disorders During Early Adulthood.
J. G. Johnson, P. Cohen, J. Brown, E. M. Smailes, and D. P. Bernstein (1999)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 56, 600-606
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Childhood Victimization and the Development of Personality Disorders: Unanswered Questions Remain.
C. S. Widom (1999)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 56, 607-608
   Full Text »    PDF »
Mothers With Histories of Domestic Violence in a Pediatric Emergency Department.
S. J. Duffy, M. E. McGrath, B. M. Becker, and J. G Linakis (1999)
Pediatrics 103, 1007-1013
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Psychological and Behavioral Functioning in Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients Who Report Histories of Childhood Abuse.
C. M. Grilo, C. Sanislow, D. C. Fehon, S. Martino, and T. H. McGlashan (1999)
Am J Psychiatry 156, 538-543
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Preventing Adolescent Health-Risk Behaviors by Strengthening Protection During Childhood.
J. D. Hawkins, R. F. Catalano, R. Kosterman, R. Abbott, and K. G. Hill (1999)
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 153, 226-234
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Law & Psychiatry: Child Abuse Reporting Laws: Time for Reform?.
P. S. Appelbaum (1999)
Psychiatr Serv 50, 27-29
   Full Text »    PDF »
The Role of the Pediatrician in Youth Violence Prevention in Clinical Practice and at the Community Level.
Task Force on Violence (1999)
Pediatrics 103, 173-181
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Family Violence: Implications for the Pediatrician.
J. F. Knapp and M. D. Dowd (1998)
Pediatr. Rev. 19, 316-321
   Full Text »    PDF »
Violence Against Women: An Integrated, Ecological Framework.
L. L. HEISE (1998)
Violence Against Women 4, 262-290
   Abstract »    PDF »
Self-Reports of Early Childhood Victimization Among Incarcerated Adult Male Felons.
R. WEEKS and C. S. WIDOM (1998)
J Interpers Violence 13, 346-361
   Abstract »
A Twelve-Year Follow-Up Study of Maltreated and At-Risk Children who Received early Therapeutic Child Care.
E. Moore, G. Armsden, and P. L. Gogerty (1998)
Child Maltreat 3, 3-16
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Understanding Incarcerated Girls: The Results of a Focus Group Study.
J. BELKNAP, K. HOLSINGER, and M. DUNN (1997)
The Prison Journal 77, 381-404
   Abstract »    PDF »
Neurological and Psychological Risk Factors among Young Homicidal, Violent, and Nonviolent Offenders in Finland.
P. SANTTILA and J. HAAPASALO (1997)
Homicide Studies 1, 234-253
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Applying Science to Violence Prevention.
M. L. Rosenberg, K. E. Powell, and R. Hammond (1997)
JAMA 277, 1641-1642
   Abstract »    PDF »
Children as Victims and Victimizers: Interventions to Promote 'Fair Play'.
F. L. Wilczenski, R. Steegmann, M. Braun, F. Feeley, J. Griffin, T. Horowitz, and S. Olson (1997)
School Psychology International 18, 81-89
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Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse in Patients Who Are Seen in Primary Care Settings.
G. Wyshak and G. A. Modest (1996)
Arch Fam Med 5, 441-447
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A Prospective Follow-up Study of Alcoholic Violent Offenders and Fire Setters.
M. Virkkunen, M. Eggert, R. Rawlings, and M. Linnoila (1996)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 53, 523-529
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Cycle of Violence: Revisited 6 Years Later.
M. G. Maxfield and C. S. Widom (1996)
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 150, 390-395
   Abstract »    PDF »
Violence involving children.
A. B Zwi and S. Rifkin (1995)
BMJ 311, 1384
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Gender Differences in Service Needs among Youths Entering a Juvenile Assessment Center: A Replication Study.
R. Dembo, J. Schmeidler, C. C. Sue, P. Borden, and D. Manning (1995)
Journal of Correctional Health Care 2, 191-216
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Comments on the Report Card From a Services Research Perspective.
M. J. P. Kruesi and B. Astrachan (1995)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 52, 727-728
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Prevalence of Trauma and Its Relationship to Borderline Personality Symptoms and Self-destructive Behaviors in a Primary Care Setting.
R. A. Sansone, L. A. Sansone, and M. Wiederman (1995)
Arch Fam Med 4, 439-442
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