Intervención psicosocial en el maltrato infantil en la familiauna relfexión desde la teoría social cognitiva

Abstract

The occurrence of cases of child abuse in the family goes beyond the boundaries of the family environment, becoming a community problem which must be addressed from a global and comprehensive perspective. Current studies state that psychosocial stress parents undergo, together with deficient community relationships, are relevant to abusive behavior history. Given this premises, this paper applies the assumptions of cognitive social theory to family abuse problems. Thus, perceived inefficacy is handling daily problems leads to psychological disturbances (e.g., scarce perception of control, inadequate attributions, etc.) Manifested as anxiety and stress on the cognitive level, and as avoidance of events and social interaction entailing challenge, on the behavioral level. This gives rise, in practice, to an acute social insolation that, in turn, can end in the abuse of the weakest members of the family, as a form of regaining control. Therefore, a need is revealed to prevent, and intervene in, family problems by, first, developing a perception of efficacy to cope with demands both in the family and in the community, and, second, anticipating and/or solving daily problems.