000 03601nam a2200397Ia 4500
001 113072
005 20250625151241.0
008 110331s2001 eng
040 _aWSS
_dAFV
082 0 _a346.01 WHY
100 _aLaird, Barbara
_91523
245 _aWhy are you taking my daddy away? :
_ban exploratory study of children's perceptions about legal interventions on a parent
_cLaird, Barbara
246 _aThesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Sciences in Psychology at the University of Waikato
260 _aHamilton
_bUniversity of Waikato
_c2001
300 _avii, 98 p.
365 _a00
_b0
500 _aThesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Sciences in Psychology at the University of Waikato
520 _aThe purpose of this study is to investigate what kind of impact family justice interventions have upon children where the parent has been arrested or otherwise subjected to the intervention of the justice system because of family violence. The two main aims of this research are to explore children's understanding of the legal intervention that was imposed upon their parent, and to assess the emotional impact of this intervention upon their lives. A phenomenological approach was taken to this study. The research centred on the experiences of 10 children aged between 9 and 17, and took the format of individual interviews. The interviews focused on children's perceptions prior to, during, and immediately after the intervention. Six custodial parents and caregivers were also interviewed. The parents and caregivers provided some insight into the background of each family, and the experiences of each child. The themes that emerged from the interviews with the children and the parents/caregivers were drawn together under five broad headings: the violence in the family, the interventions on the parent, the awareness of the children, the needs of the children, and the consequences for the children. It was found that children seldom understood why interventions occurred, and were rarely informed of what was happening. Children are usually distressed by the justice interventions, are frequently disempowered by the circumstances surrounding the intervention process, and often remain ignorant of the details. The research highlights the importance of reassessing the intervention process, especially with regard to children who witness it. It also raises questions about the kind of information that needs to be given to children and how that can be done. It has wider implications too, for those who work with children who are at risk. The author suggests that if we take note of what children say and feel, and allow them some form of personal control in a distressing and disempowering situation, it may be possible to reduce the negative impact of the intervention process overall.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT
522 _anz
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aCHILDREN
_9127
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aDOMESTIC VIOLENCE
_9203
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aEMOTIONAL ABUSE
_9222
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aINTERVENTION
_9326
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aJUSTICE
_9333
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aLEGISLATION
_9346
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aPHYSICAL ABUSE
_9439
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aPOLICY
_9447
650 2 4 _aPSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE
_9472
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aTHESES
_9606
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aVICTIMS
_9622
650 2 7 _9431
_aINTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
_2FVC
650 2 7 _9130
_aCHILD EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE
_2FVC
650 2 7 _9103
_aCHILD ABUSE
_2FVC
650 2 4 _aSEXUAL VIOLENCE
_9531
942 _2ddc
_cTHESIS
999 _c3132
_d3132