Linking brain science and behavior to understand child abuse

What is it about?

Science is becoming more cross-disciplinary, and this change in culture is leading to many new scientific insights. The study of child maltreatment used to be viewed solely as a social welfare issue. Then it became a psychological one. However the study if child maltreatment has now become a central way to test theories about the relative roles of biology and social experience in human bio behavioral development. Here, we highlight some examples of this changing perspective and new insights that have been generated by linking brain science with family behavior.

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Why is it important?

One approach to an issue will likely lead to only one perspective or insight. To fully understand the effects of child maltreatment-- and to come up with really effective intervention programs for maltreated children-- we need to understand how and why child abuse affects brain development and behavior. These kinds of insights are now possible and are leading to new ways of thinking about this major humanitarian and public health problem.