ABSTRACT
Research and theory on parental care and its effects on child development is, or should be, by its very nature interdisciplinary in its perspective. Every parent brings with him or her long history of experiences both within his or her family of origin and in interaction with peers, teachers, and other adults and children loosely comprising his or her social network. The role that the child plays in eliciting patterns of parental care is accorded special attention in the case of child maltreatment. Many have argued persuasively that maltreatment of children at the rates observed in this country must be predicated on sociocultural mores that condone the use of physical force and the view of children as private property. Research on the multiple determinants of parenting and of child maltreatment underscores the need for comprehensive systems of service delivery to parents and children.
