Bouchard, Gerard, et al. Social Myths and Collective Imaginaries. University of Toronto Press, 2018.
In this book, Bouchard et al. explain how myths create collective imaginaries that influence the culture and behavior in the past and modern society. According to the authors, society holds onto religious, political, and social myths which have gone unchallenged over time. Thus, addressing why particular myths and cultural practices continue to prevail in society despite global social changes can establish the uniqueness of the culture that encourages societal malpractices such as child abuse. The author uses the following guidelines to explore the phenomenon to understand the social, religious, and political contexts of myths. Firstly, the author investigates the perspectives of myths in contemporary society and their connection to culture and particular societies. Secondly, the author seeks to establish different forms of myth. Thirdly, Bouchard examines the sources and factors that strengthen society’s myth.
Finally, the author explores how myths have evolved and adapted to society over time. Bouchard believes that addressing these factors is essential in finding the root cause of challenging factors in society, such as maltreatment, violence, and child abuse in society and Quebec. Bouchard is a Canadian sociologist and historian based at Quebec University, Department of Human Sciences. As a historian, his contribution to the book guarantees the book’s credibility since he understands the history of Canada’s beliefs and myths, which relate to his field. The information in this book is relevant and will help understand the influence of religious, cultural, or historical myths and beliefs on moral blindness in Quebec society.
Harper C. A., Perkins C., & Johnson D.” Psychological factors influencing religious congregation members’ reporting of alleged sexual abuse,” Journal of Sexual Aggression, 2019, pp 1-16.
The authors seek to establish factors that hinder religious leaders from reporting child abuse cases by examining and analyzing several investigative studies about religion and child abuse practices. Harper et al. narrow down their study by focusing primarily on psychological factors. Harper et al. bases approach the investigation on two conceptual principles, namely the moral foundations theory and system justification theory, to explain the psychological underpinning s of reporting child abuse among religious leaders. According to the researchers, gaining more insight into the psychological barriers is a positive move towards effective communication about child abuse practices and the reporting procedure within religious settings. The authors draw conclusive results indicating that religious leaders ignore or conceal child abuse practices to on moral beliefs and religious justifications.
Harper et al.’s investigation is credible since the researchers use original data and practical methodologies to investigate and report accurate findings. Understanding the position of religious leaders through psychological theories is a practical approach to improving disclosure and reporting practices enhancing early intervention. The study is relevant to the research proposal to suggest possible prevention and early intervention measures and avoid irreversible situations from child abuse. The research findings will also be applicable in establishing the significance and role of religious institutions and leaders in encouraging child abuse based on morality and societal justification.
Holden W George “Why Do Parents Hit Their Children? From Cultural to Unconscious Determinants, “The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 73:1, 2020, pp 10-29.
In this article, the author focuses on how corporal punishment may lead to abusive acts, injury, and maltreatment among children and adolescents. Holden argues that the universal norm of punishing children using corporal punishment is a significant contributor to child abuse when the practice persists to extremity. The author examines determinant factors of physical punishment by investigating why some parents prefer the practice while others go for other methods of punishment such as parental counseling. Holden classifies child abuse predictors into four categories: social-cultural influences, child variables, parental variables, and family structure and environment. The author further examines parents’ violent actions according to consciousness and unconscious acts, which drive the motive for violence.
Holdens research is credible as it is scholarly reviewed and published for educational use. The researcher is a professor at Methodist University Dallas and investigates issues about parent-child relationships and effective disciplinary measures that are socially cognitive. The literature and results of Holden’s research is relevant to the proposal by identifying parental determinants and indicators of child abuse. The research will also help establish that corporal punishment is a form of child abuse and may lead to severe complications. The research is also applicable in identifying the influence of family structure and background on child abuse related to Aurore’s predicament.
Plante, Nathalie. “Representations of Child Abuse in Quebec Print Media and the Integration of Child Psychological Ill-Treatment into the Youth Protection Act: When Distancing Abusive Families Matters More.” Sociology Study, vol. 11, no. 5, 2021, pp. 165–188.
In this article, the researcher investigates the role of media in presenting child abuse and maltreatment in Quebec, Canada. According to Plante, the public understands child abuse according to the media presentation. The author argues that television shows and films play an important role in creating public awareness regarding many social issues such as maltreatment, violence, and family conflicts. However, media presentations can also influence the public by instigating the vice or helping in prevention measures. The author believes that exploring the various approaches the media use to explore child abuse is essential to establish and integrate more ideas that pass the information effectively. Quebec’s media has advanced over time and presented many horror stories about societal malpractices. Plante explores media presentation of child abuse in Quebec by presenting findings of a qualitative study about how Quebec media presents cases of psychological maltreatment among children and the youth. The author focuses on media presentations from 2006 after Quebec’s formal Youth Protection Act.
Plante uses various forms the media applies to pass information regarding child abuse, such as fear, emotional anchoring, metaphors, and personification. Through an integrative study of numerous horror and child abuse films, including Aurore. The authors’ conclusive remarks indicate that media presentations focus on the othering. The author suggests future research to investigate the role of media social defensive action on child abuse and approaches of effectively addressing the issues in film and television. Plante’s investigation is credible and provides relevant information in the field of contemporary Quebec cinematography and child abuse. The information will help identify approaches to enhance media presentation regarding child abuse.
Zinzow, Heidi M et al. “Barriers to Formal Help-seeking following Sexual Violence: Review from within an Ecological Systems Framework.” Victims & Offenders, 2021.
Zinzow et al. explore barriers to reporting abuse and maltreatment cases among teenagers and young women. The authors review environmental factors that hinder disclosure of sexual abuse and violent acts among survivors of sexual abuse and maltreatment. According to the authors, a very minimal number of sexual abuse victims seek help, while those who attempt to find help are usually late, leading to irreversible consequences due to particular ecological barriers that prevent disclosure. Zinzow et al. examine ecological barriers to disclosure in three categories. The first level addresses ecological barriers at an individual level, which entail belonging to minority groups, ignorance on forms of abuse, and stigma associated with reporting the abuse. Secondly, the researchers approach the ecological barriers at a microsystem level involving negative responses to disclosing the event and fear of retaliation from the perpetrator.
Finally, the mega-system level explores cultural barriers, gender roles, societal norms, and the availability of resources to seek proper help. Zinzow et al. believe that approaching child abuse disclosure through examining ecological barriers that prevent seeking help is essential in providing preventive policies at each level. This journal is an original work from known authors and includes evidence-based research and practice internationally. It is a credible source and will help in the proposal by providing a framework on factors that hinder early prevention of violence and adolescent abuse leading to irreversible damage.
Works Cited
Bouchard, Gerard, et al. Social Myths and Collective Imaginaries. University of Toronto Press, 2018.
Harper C. A., Perkins C., & Johnson D.” Psychological factors influencing religious congregation members’ reporting of alleged sexual abuse,” Journal of Sexual Aggression, 2019, pp 1-16.
Holden W George. “Why Do Parents Hit Their Children? From Cultural to Unconscious Determinants, “The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 73:1, 2020, pp 10-29. Web.
Plante, Nathalie. “Representations of Child Abuse in Quebec Print Media and the Integration of Child Psychological Ill-Treatment into the Youth Protection Act: When Distancing Abusive Families Matters More.” Sociology Study, vol. 11, no. 5, 2021, pp. 165–188.
Zinzow, Heidi M et al. “Barriers to Formal Help-seeking following Sexual Violence: Review from within an Ecological Systems Framework.” Victims & Offenders, 2021.