by Richard Rhodes, Guest Columnist, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction (1988) and the National Book Award (1987)
I know today, with confidence in the evidence, that violence is not genetic nor merely neurological: violence is learned through a process of violent socialization.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "in 2006, 6 million cases of child abuse or neglect were reported to Child Protective Services in the United States. Approximately 905,000 of these cases were confirmed.... However, the true number of children who are abused or neglected is unknown. Many cases, especially those involving young children, are not recognized or reported. As a result, many abused or neglected children suffer in silence." In this issue of NCFR Report, we explore Child Abuse & Neglect. As always, your NCFR colleagues share their expertise in research and practice on the subject matter. However, we are especially grateful this time for a contribution from a guest columnist, Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Rhodes.
Domestic abuse, bullying and school shootings, child abuse, suicide ... sometimes it seems as though we are surrounded by violence. Less evident are the efforts of those working to prevent violence. In this issue, we explore some of those efforts - including anger management training, a therapeutic visitation program for parents in the child protection system, a community-based youth-violence program, and the use of sophisticated computer technology to predict "hot spots."
