Social Work (SOWK) Practice Test

Dr. Milner's research highlights that physical child abusers often struggle with certain emotional and psychological traits, which contributes to their abusive behavior. High levels of self-esteem are particularly uncommon among these individuals. In many cases, abusers may have low self-esteem, leading to feelings of inadequacy and the need to exert control over others to compensate for those feelings. Conversely, the other traits listed—such as low levels of empathy, a history of substance abuse, and experience in parenting—are more frequently associated with child abusers. Low empathy can lead to an inability to understand or care for the child's feelings, making abusive behavior more likely. A history of substance abuse often correlates with impulsive and harmful behavior patterns, and while having parenting experience might not inherently lead to abuse, many abusers do have some familiarity with parenting roles, complicating the dynamics of their behavior. Thus, the distinction of high self-esteem being uncommon effectively underscores the psychological profile often found in those who perpetrate child abuse, differentiating it from the other traits mentioned.