ABSTRACT
Information processing follows a series of steps that are both linear (each happens in order) and nonlinear (early steps may re-enter the sequence or later steps may be omitted when action is precipitated quickly; Crittenden 1992c). The way those steps are managed is, however, tied to past experience of what deserves attention and how far to carry the processing before ending it and acting (or not acting). In order for child-protective behavior to be initiated, the following series of psychological steps must occur:
1 Specifically, the information (cognitive or affective or both) about the state of the child must be perceived.
