Survivors of Abuse or Neglect Chapter 35 Introduction Abuse is the maltreatment of one person by another. More injuries are attributed to intimate partner violence than to all rapes, muggings, and automobile accidents combined. An increase in the incidence of child abuse has been documented. Rape is thought to be vastly underreported. Abuse affects all races, religions, economic classes, ages, and educational backgrounds. Laws now exist to protect children and the elderly. Introduction Predisposing Factors Biological Theories Neurophysiological Influences Temporal lobe Limbic system Amygdaloid nucleus Biochemical Influences Norepinephrine Serotonin Dopamine Biological Theories (cont.) Genetic Influences Possible hereditary factor Genetic karyotype XYY has been implicated