spect to children's behavior than Western societies, and allow young children in particular enormous freedom of behavior and attitude that Western cultures would regard as inappropriate (Tower, 1993). Still other cultures regard children as virtually the property of parents and do not interfere in this relationship even when abuse is a factor. In the United States, however, the problem has become the center of debate and controversy as more sophisticated reporting and identification techniques and methods are created. It is estimated that nationally between 100,000 and 200,000 children are abused to some degree each year; only a relatively small portion of that number are identified by such groups as schools, doctors, other health care providers, social service agencies, and law enforcement officials (Tower, 1993; Hyden, 1999; Murry, et al, 2000).
Child abuse is defined as the nonaccidental injury of children; a key element in this definition is the voluntary nature of child abuse, while a sec
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