Arnon Bentovim - Episteme

Growing up resilient in a climate of
violence and abuse
Child abuse and neglect volume 31, no3 march 2007
edited by Cathy Widom
• Stressful factors and effects accumulate in
particular families
• Consequences accumulate in strength over time
• A sub-set of individuals are resilient in adolescence,
young adulthood and into later life ‘turning points’ can
occur
• Bright and sociable evoke support from teachers
and children, fosters positive adaptation, the child going
from strength to strength
• Modifying behaviours consequent to abuse launches
positive trajectories.
• Multisystemic interventions minimise family and
neighbourhood stressors, foster children’s innate
personal resources overcomes impact of adversity