ABSTRACT
In 2013, Child Protective Services in the United States received over 3 million referrals of possible cases of child abuse involving over 6 million children (Children’s Bureau 2014). International estimates of child abuse include over 500 million known cases of abused or neglected children (UNICEF 2012). Whether the information is national or international, the abuse of children creates consequences not only for the child but also for the society. In the United States, approximately 1600 children die each year as a result of abuse or neglect at a rate of nearly 2 children per 100,000 children in the national population. Internationally, the number of child fatalities due to maltreatment is unknown; however, estimates suggest that the number of incidents is significant. Most child maltreatment deaths result from physical abuse or neglect. Historically, common perpetrators of child maltreatment deaths included fathers, mothers, and mothers’ boyfriends. Currently, friends met within the online community are now often included as common perpetrators; however, in general, perpetrators of child abuse and neglect still include fathers, mothers, boyfriends, siblings, and other family members with
the majority of the cases of child abuse perpetrated by someone known and close to the child. Hence, stranger danger is, for the most part, a myth, and although the phrase is simple and rhythmic for ease of memory, it often leaves children with the notion that only strangers will hurt them.
