Child maltreatment in context. The following questions are designed to help you think about the significance of social context in relation to the prevalence of child abuse in the United States. The most severe consequence of child abuse is obviously death. Because of the mass media's attention to these cases, members of the victims' and perpetrators' families have been offered "financial reward" for telling their stories. Does media attention contribute to or help deter child maltreatment? Explain your answer. In what ways does the context of violence in the United States promote child maltreatment? Have you ever encountered a situation in which you suspected a child was the victim of abuse or neglect? What did you do, and why? If it were in your power to completely shape the social context in which a child grew up, what steps would you take to help ensure that he or she would be protected from maltreatment?