Origins and Definitions

Defining Professional Dangerousness

At the PD Collective, we define Professional Dangerousness (PD) as:

A human services concept that names how the actions of professionals- even with good intent- can inadvertently initiate, amplify, or sustain risk, inequity, or negative outcomes for the people and communities they serve.

Definition developed by The PD Collective. © 2026 The PD Collective.

Professional Dangerousness can emerge in subtle ways within everyday practice—often in moments that seem small or routine but carry cumulative impact over time.

Examples may include:

  • Avoiding difficult conversations

  • Losing connection to the “why” that originally drew someone to the work

  • Placing individuals or families at the bottom of a to-do list because they are difficult to engage

PD can manifest within individuals, teams, organizations, and the broader systems in which they operate.

Naming and addressing these dynamics creates opportunities for reflection, accountability, and cultures of care that support ethical and effective practice.

Expanding the Concept

While the term emerged from child protection literature, the PD Collective recognizes its relevance far beyond that original context. We have developed a formal definition and continue to expand the concept through contemporary research, practice, and cross-disciplinary dialogue — building practical frameworks that help professionals across sectors recognize and address these dynamics today.

Historical Roots

The term "Professional Dangerousness" originates from Dangerous Families: Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse, published in 1986. The book was authored by Peter Dale, Murray Davies, Tony Morrison, and Jim Waters, and developed from their work with the NSPCC's Rochdale Special Unit in Britain.

The term appears as a section title within the book, where the authors discuss how professional behaviors, organizational pressures, and systemic dynamics can unintentionally increase risk for the families practitioners are meant to protect. No single formal definition was offered — the concept was framed through description and practice examples.

Early discussions of Professional Dangerousness focused primarily on child protection contexts — examining how professional decision-making, stress, and systemic pressures could inadvertently increase risk for children and families.

Dale, P., Davies, M., Morrison, T., & Waters, J. (1986). Dangerous families: Assessment and treatment of child abuse. Tavistock.