A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective on Child Maltreatment

Child maltreatment exemplifies a pathogenic relational environment that confers considerable risk for maladaptation across diverse psychological and biological domains of development. Deprived of many of the experiences believed to promote adaptive functioning across the life span, maltreated children traverse a probabilistic pathway characterized by an increased likelihood for compromised resolution of stage-salient developmental tasks. Because the maltreating home represents such a dramatic violation of the average expectable environment, research on child maltreatment informs developmental theory by elucidating the conditions necessary for normal development and healthy adaptation. Moreover, research on child maltreatment enhances clinical, legal, and policy decisions aimed to promote children’s safety and well-being.