Physical Child Abuse

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Types of Abuse
Physical child abuse
Conclusion
References

Abstract

Pressure on matters concerning child negligence and abuse causes great changes on subject pertaining childcare. Globally, there is great legal protection for unsympathetic cruelty by caregivers such as lack of proper provision of basic needs. Today, administrative support against child abuse and negligence is highly supported.

On the other hand, the issue continues to be of great controversy especially the obvious link towards outcome during adulthood. The problems associated with child abuse concerns its continual illegal and silent practice in addition to the effects caused on or by victims especially much later in their subsistence.

Introduction

Child abuse refers to behaviour originating from exerted force thus causing an imbalance of power. Good examples of the disparity include the adult-child relationships, older and younger siblings’ interactions and the adolescent to child involvement (Crosson, 2007). Abuse causes unwilling participation in various activities unwillingly such as sexually related behaviours. Usually the child is unaware of the abuse due to the naïve state of mind or innocence. In most instances, the child is not in a position to understand the state of affairs.

This paper is an analysis of the effect of physical child abuse on an adult victim as well as its implication to future societal growth. The research also presents an analysis of dominant arguments and theories for the act at certain circumstances in relation to lifestyle.

Types of Abuse

According to Dube et al., (2001) “Child abuse and neglect consists of any act of commission or omission that results in harm, is potential for harm, or a threat of harm to a child, even if harm was unintentional.” There are various types of child abuse classified under emotional, physical, sexual and child neglect.

In line with Dube et al (2001), abused children generally suffer from lack of care, love and safety. Physical abuse such as beating mainly causes body harm and often leads to emotional or psychological effects such as low self esteem or introversion (Dube et al, 2001).

Physical child abuse

Physical abuse involves actions that cause bodily injuries on the child. These external injuries are either intentional or unintentional but with an aim of taming certain behaviour or discipline the child through physical attacks or punishments.

Types of physical abuse

The most common type of physical abuse experienced by victims is corporal punishment, slapping and pinching. Physically abusive guardians justify their actions by insisting on the need to teach and emphasize discipline. They call for attention to parenting by the “spare the rod, spoil the child’ rule, but end up physically abusing instead of correcting behaviours. The main aim of disciplining is to teach the right from wrong and not instil fear and other severe emotional effects through dictatorship.

One of the major elements evident in physically abused children especially as adults is unpredictability. According to Bromfield (2010), unlike the physical form of disciplining, the child is not aware of what is inappropriate according to parental guidance. Such victims live in anxiety over possibility of committing a wrong act.

They are worried of engaging in a behaviour that may trigger an offence. Secondly, abuse causes a child to agonize in anger. The intensity of abuse depends on the parent’s anger. Lastly, the abuser focuses on the need to instil behaviours through fear. The severe punishments in the aim of instilling discipline are thus physical abuse. As a result, the child learns ways of avoiding the parental abuse other than acquire good behaviours and mature as a disciplined individual through understanding.

Signs of Physical Abuse

There are some obvious physical signs of childhood molestation or abuse such as walking, sitting and playing difficulties due to incurred injuries. In severe cases, these injuries may cause disabilities. The abused victim gives the impression of strain during such common activities. Constant pains and physical irritation are also common long-term physical effects. Different bruises and scars marks on the victim’s body depending on the types of subjected abuse.

Effects of Physical Abuse

Adult victims of child abuse more prone to chronic pain and other physical health-related illness compared to the general population. Abused adult survivors of have chronic medical problems such as blood pressure, liver and heart related illnesses.

In line with research carried out by Miller and Perrin (2007), abuse and neglect has major impact on the immune system thus causing higher propensity of engaging risky behaviours, during later life spans such as drugs abuse or unprotected sexual engagements. Chronic pain disorders are also present in adulthood.

Physical abuse causes violent or criminal responses. The mistreatment and neglect makes a child to form cohesive dissociate from the family and high possibility of engaging physical abuse latter in life. “Children learn various activities and they might interpret physical abuse or domestic violence as appropriate methods of resolving conflicts and responding to stressful situations (Miller and Perrin, 2007).”

This causes them to acquire and involve in criminal activities during their adulthood. In other extreme instances, abuse causes disabilities.

Abuse Intervention

There are various measures of intervening to prevent maltreatment and neglect such as social support therapies or counselling sessions for those suffering from neurologically or psychologically. These cares are more efficient methods of promoting resilience especially when early abuse cases detection and mediation occurs.

Conclusion

Most behaviour-related problems are associable with victims of child. There are various future behavioural consequences associable with abuse such as delinquency, poor academic achievements, early pregnancy, ‘don’t-care’ attitudes, drug abuse, mental related health disorders and childhood mortality.

Physical abuse also lowers the social-economic status and thus high chances of neglect or abuse due to frustrations. There are very high possibilities that abusive parent were victims of childhood neglect or abuse. Those who face abuse or neglect during childhood are likely to eventually victimize others or subject their own children to similar circumstances. This is like a system life cycle among victims.

References

Bromfield L. (February, 2010). Cumulative harm: the effects of chronic child

maltreatment. Presentation to the Tasmanian Magistrates Conference, Hobart. Print.

Crosson, C. (2007). Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect. (7th Edition). Allyn & Bacon Publisher. Print.

Dube, S. R., Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Chapman, D., Williamson, D. F., & Giles, W. H. (2001). Childhood abuse, household dysfunction and the risk of attempted suicide throughout the life span: Findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Journal of the American Medical Association, 286, 3089-3096.

Miller, C., & Perrin, R. (2007). Child maltreatment: an introduction. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Print

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