(Caveat Actor #1)

BEHAVIORAL LEADERS TO CONSISTENT DEVIANT BEHAVIORS OVER TIME: FAMILY STRESSORS ASSESSMENT IN CHILD CUSTODY CASES

(Investigators Protocols, and Work Sheet, Investigator Completes Behavioral Questionnaire.)

            Behavioral relationships within family dynamics are important relationships to explore.  The various behavioral categories that are listed from the authors' investigative importance to child custody investigations.  However,  this list has its' limitations and should only be used as a reference guide and not as an all inclusive investigation.  All questions need they WHY'S answered.

Family and Parent Interviews.

1)  Family Dynamics Overview (last?)

Have the Parties been Psychologically Examined?

Substance Abuse in the Family?

Domestic Violence in the Family?

What does the Parent Think about Their Child(ren)?

Are Family Members Disassociating from One Another?

Are there Criminal Behaviors in the Home?

Are the Criminal Behaviors Outside of the Home?

Parenting Skills?

Is Positive or Negative Behavioral Reinforcements being used by the Parent?

Has the Parent been Diagnosed with Mental Illness?

Is the Parent Exhibiting Signs of Mental Illness?

Identify Family Stressors.

Identify Family Supports.

When Interviewing Parents or Children are they making admissions of Tacit Admissions of Consistent Deviant Behaviors Over Time?

When Interviewing Parents or Children are they Making Admissions of Deviancy of Folkways or Mores?

When the Parents Praise the Child for Positive Behaviors, how does the Child Act?

When the Parents Admonish the Child for Negative Behaviors, how does the child act.

Any Family Members Experiencing Reaction Formation?

Does the parent know where their child is at the time of the interview and who has them?

Child(ren) May Be Interviewed 4-17 years of age.  Interviews of children 4 and younger, should be determined case by case, based on maturity.

How does the Child Perceive Themselves?

Is the Child Obedient for Their Age Group?  Are They Rebellious and Exhibiting Acting out Behaviors?

What are the Child's Daily Hours, ie. getting up, school, sports, peer group, other programs?

Does the Child Engage in Exaggeration?

Does the Child Engage in Lying?

Does the Child Take Responsibility for Their Own Actions?

Does the child exhibit aggression or Aggressive Behaviors?

Is the Child Experiencing Eating Disorders?

Is the Child Experiencing Self Inflicted Harm?

Is the Child Exhibiting Antisocial or Borderline Behaviors?

Is the Child Anxious?

Is the Child Experiencing Suicidal Ideation?

Is the Child Projecting?

Who does the Child Look Up To?

Who is in the Child's Peer Group?

Has there Been Violence or Child Abuse in the Child's History?

What does the Child Think About other Children / Adult's outside their Peer Group.

Has the child attempted suicide?

Exercise:  How does the family SCORE on the Family Assessment Device, Family Awareness Scale, Family Sense of Coherence and Family Adaptation Scales TEST.

Exercise:  Conduct interviewer bonding time when interviewing children before the interview to make the child more comfortable.  Some time during the interview have the child draw a picture of their family and the relational differences between themselves and other family members to discover the child's self perception of themselves and others.  A good example, is have the child draw an island and place their house on it.  Then ask the child to draw a picture of their mom, dad, brother, sisters, and grandparents.  Include normal items such as a home would have, and have ask the child to explain their feelings on these individual items behaviorally.  Now ask the child to draw a picture of land, near the island, ie. point to where you want the land to be, near the island.  Then ask the child different behavioral questions, like:  "If you wanted to get across the water to the other land how would you do that?"  Examine the relational differences, self esteem, violence and many other problems that may show up during the interview.  Supply color felt tip pens and paper.

{CAUTION:  This exercise is not to be confused with a fact finding forensic interview(s) of a child(ren) in criminal sexual conduct cases. }