Developmental Victimology:

Uniting to Make the Case to

End All Violence Against Children

David Finkelhor

Crimes against Children Research Center

University of New Hampshire

March 22 2018

Mt Sinai Hospital

NY

Children most exposed demographic group

Children experience ALL the same forms of

crime, violence and abuse that adults do

Assault, rape, property crime, war

PLUS

Victimizations specific to childhood

Neglect, sexual abuse

Children More Victimized than Adults,

General Crime

Agg.

Assault

Simple

Assault

Rape Robbery

National Crime Victimization Survey, 2000

0

1

2

3

4

You

th R

isk

- A

du

lt R

isk

(12-1

7)

2.0 x

2.9 x

2.3 x

1.9 x

Youth More Victimized

Children More Victimized than Adults,

Family Violence

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

5.3 x

3.1 x

Any Violence Severe Violence

National Family Violence Survey, 1975

Child

Ris

k -

Adult R

isk

(0-1

8)

Why are Children So Victimized?

Small, inexperienced, dependent, fewer conflict

resolution strategies

Weak protective norms and sanctions

Lack of choice over associates

Juvenile Victimization Fragmentation

????:

(Juvenile Victimization)

Underage

Drinking

Truants Runaways

Vagrancy

Violent

Assaulters

Property

Offenders

Sexual

Assaulters

Ungover-

nable

Drug

Abusers

Field: Juvenile Delinquency

Perils of Fragmentation

Underestimates true scope of victimization

Obscures interconnections

Fails to identify most victimized children

Unnecessary competition for scare resources

Reduces policy influence

Reinforces arbitrary distinctions

Ignores children’s own perspective

Bullying and Maltreatment: effect on adverse outcomes

at age 23-24

Price-Robertson, R., Higgins, D. J., & Vassallo, S. (2013). Multi-type maltreatment and ploy-victimisation: A Comparison of two research frameworks. Family Matters, 93, 84-98.

Finkelhor, D. (2008). Childhood victimization: Violence,

crime, and abuse in the lives of young people. Oxford

University Press.

Major Types

Family

Physical abuse

Sexual abuse

Emotional abuse

Neglect

Peers

Bullying & peer assault

Dating violence & Rape

Gang violence

Property crime

Community

Armed conflict

Commercial sex exploitation

Hate crime

Developmental Victimology

Developmental changes in risk

Developmental factors in impact

Developmental Aspects of Violence Risk

0 18 Age

Gender

Differences

Family

Weapon

Lethality

Stranger/

Acquaintance

Major Areas of Identified

Developmental Impact

Younger Older

Attachment

Emotional Regulation

Cognitive Development

Memory Storage & Processing

Social Withdrawal

Inhibition of Aggression

Moral Development

Friendship Formation & Acceptance

Attributional Biases

Academic Performance

Self-Esteem

Pessimism

Social Competence

Antisocial Behavior

JVQ Logo

Finkelhor, D., Hamby, S. L., Ormrod, R., & Turner, H.

(2005). The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire: reliability,

validity, and national norms. Child abuse & neglect, 29(4),

383-412.

Victimization in Last Year (2014)

US National (Children 0-17, N=4549)

61

46

6 10

25 25

NATSCEV PY weighted

ANOVA includes sex, age, race/ethnicity, family structure and SES.

Poly-victims

“Poly-Victims” – Most affected 10% of children

Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R. K., & Turner, H. A.

(2007). Polyvictimization and trauma in a national

longitudinal cohort. Development and

psychopathology, 19(1), 149-166.

“Poly Victim” – much more impact than single type victimization

Peer-Sib Victims

Sexual Victims

Maltreatment Victims Property Victims

Witness Community Viol Victims

Witness Family Viol Victims

Other Key Developmental Findings

Peer victimization more frequent than

adult/caregiver victimization

Peer victimization just as impactful as

adult/caregiver victimization

Emotional/psychological abuse (by both peers and

caregivers) very high impact

Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H., & Hamby, S. (2013). Improving the adverse

childhood experiences study scale. JAMA pediatrics, 167(1), 70-75.

World Health Organization and Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children

“PeSeLaw”

PE – Parent Education

SE – School Environment

Law - Law enforcement training and support

Key Targets

Parent education

Non-violent, attachment-promoting child management

Programs that engage, adapted to parent schedule and

learning style

Engaging men

School environment

Law enforcement

Key Targets

Parent education

School environment

Bullying prevention, conflict resolution, prosocial

climate

Comprehensive curriculum

Complements, integrates other learning objectives

Law enforcement

Key Targets

Parent education

School environment

Law enforcement training and support

Commitment to child safety priorities

Child friendly, child sensitive response system

Collaborates with other professions

Integrates women

Physical and Sexual Abuse Have Been Declining

Murders of Juveniles Have Been Declining

Overall Serious Violent Offending

By Juveniles Is Declining

- 60% 1992-2011

Rape by Juveniles

- 72% 1992-2011

School Violence Has Been Declining

Intimate Partner Violence Has Been Declining

1

4

7

10

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2007 2009

Source: National Crime Victimization Survey Data.

IPV-NCVS

68% decline

1993-2010

Conclusion

Mobilization is growing

Evidence-based programs exist

Trends show improvement

Expanded participation, particularly schools and

primary care

More evidence –based programs

Comprehensive, using technology, well-disseminated

For more information contact:

David Finkelhor

david.finkelhor@unh.edu

http://www.unh.edu/ccrc