CHILD ABUSE

Child Abuse



Child Abuse

Child Abuse, Neglect, and Maltreatment

Victim logy and crime prevention cut across many fields of study, including social services. Although the perpetrators of child maltreatment are not always prosecuted, the children who are abused and neglected are undeniably crime victims. They suffer the emotional trauma of victimization in addition to the physical effects, of abuse or neglect. In many cases, the consequences of abuse are especially traumatic because of children's subsequent separation from their loved ones. Professionals' use of best practices in responding to and trying to prevent child maltreatment is a critical part of ensuring that all children have the opportunity to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment (Wolfe, 1999).

Definitions.

Child abuse and neglect also referred to collectively as child maltreatment, comprises the legal and social definitions of specific typologies, including physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional/psychological neglect, and sexual abuse. Legal definitions of the different types of maltreatment vary from state to state, but their source is societal standards of a safe, nurturing environment that ensures a child can grow into a fully functioning, contributing member of society. The definitions below are based on those used by the American Humane Society and other standard sources in the field. Physical Abuse (Wolfe, 1999)

Physical abuse is the most visible of the maltreatment typologies. It is defined as inflicted, non accidental physical injury, or the risk of injury, to a child by a caregiver or parent. The injury often results from inappropriate or excessive discipline. Discipline and cultural practices are part of determining what crosses the threshold for the legal definition of abuse. Most of the Western world accepts corporal punishment as a means of discipline. The question becomes how one differentiates between discipline and abuse. Neglect.

Neglect, the most often reported maltreatment typology, is an act of omission by the parent or caregiver that is harmful to the child. What constitutes neglect depends on societal mores, community standards and culture, and economic and political values. It is subdivided into physical, medical, educational, and in some cases emotional neglect. (Emotional neglect will be dealt with below as a separate category.) (Aronson, 2008).

Emotional Neglect.

Emotional neglect has many other names, including mental injury and psychological maltreatment. It is defined as an act of omission or an overt action that is inattentive to a child's need for nurturing, affection, support, and emotional development. Examples include rejection, verbal assault, isolation, torment, exploitation, belittlement, and public humiliation. Emotional neglect is one of the most difficult types of maltreatment to document because it may not be readily observable. It is often accompanied by other forms of maltreatment, such as physical abuse or neglect (Spry, 2008)

Historical Perspective.

The concept of child maltreatment has evolved throughout history. Across cultures, children used to be seen as the property of their parents, having neither rights nor privileges, and infanticide was a common practice. Children's status in life was determined by the parents, and discipline was often harsh and unrestrained by society. In the ancient world, as well as the more modern Western ...