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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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Policy and Politics.
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Journal of Adolescent Research 15, 652-673
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A Closer Look at the Drug Abuse--Maternal Aggression Link.
D. HIEN and T. HONEYMAN (2000)
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Childhood Maltreatment, PTSD, and Suicidal Behavior Among African American Females.
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J Interpers Violence 15, 3-15
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The Psychological Typology of Criminal Homicidal Aggression.
J. A. Kudryavtsev and N. A. Ratinova (1999)
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol 43, 459-472
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Law & Psychiatry: Child Abuse Reporting Laws: Time for Reform?.
P. S. Appelbaum (1999)
Psychiatr Serv 50, 27-29
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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
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Family Violence: Implications for the Pediatrician.
J. F. Knapp and M. D. Dowd (1998)
Pediatr. Rev. 19, 316-321
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Violence Against Women: An Integrated, Ecological Framework.
L. L. HEISE (1998)
Violence Against Women 4, 262-290
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Self-Reports of Early Childhood Victimization Among Incarcerated Adult Male Felons.
R. WEEKS and C. S. WIDOM (1998)
J Interpers Violence 13, 346-361
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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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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 involving children.
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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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Buddy, Can You Par-a-Digm? Three Predictive Models of Deviant Development.
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Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 31, 328-336
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The Mediating Effect of Good School Performance on the Maltreatment-Delinquency Relationship.
M. T. ZINGRAFF, J. LEITER, M. C. JOHNSEN, and K. A. MYERS (1994)
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 31, 62-91
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Important Links between Child Abuse, Neglect, and Delinquency.
R. G. Scudder, W. R. Blount, K. M. Heide, and I. J. Silverman (1993)
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol 37, 315-323
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Effects of Child Neglect on Children.
J. L. CROUCH and J. S. MILNER (1993)
Criminal Justice and Behavior 20, 49-65
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Characteristics of Child Victims of Physical Violence: Research Findings and Clinical Implications.
D. J. KOLKO (1992)
J Interpers Violence 7, 244-276
   Abstract »    PDF »
Drug Abuse among Juvenile Detainees.
R. DEMBO, L. WILLIAMS, and J. SCHMEIDLER (1992)
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 521, 28-41
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Childhood Victimization, Race, and Violent Crime.
C. KRUTTSCHNITT and M. DORNFELD (1991)
Criminal Justice and Behavior 18, 448-463
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Intergenerational Differences in Parenting Styles and Goals.
P. Martin, C. F. Halverson, K. S. Wampler, and N. Hollett-Wright (1991)
International Journal of Behavioral Development 14, 195-207
   Abstract »    PDF »
Mechanisms in the cycle of violence.
K. Dodge, J. Bates, and G. Pettit (1990)
Science 250, 1678-1683
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Cyclical Pattern of Child Abuse: A Study of Research Methodology.
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American Behavioral Scientist 33, 529-545
Family Violence As a Cause of Crime: Rethinking Our Priorities.
M. D. Schwartz (1989)
Criminal Justice Policy Review 3, 115-132
   Abstract »



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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)