A child’s behavior is one of the main and prominent reflections which is affected by the actions of family members, especially parents. Family members (especially parents) can observe the damage, and maltreatment/ abuse that has been inflicted upon the child through their behavioral patterns. Consequently, parents and family members play one of the major role in inflicting physical and psychological abuse upon their children. All types of child abuse; psychological, sexual, emotional, or physical, affect immensely the negative behavioral patterns manifested by the child abuse victim. These negative behavioral patterns include chronic depression, PTSD (Posttraumatic disorder), aggression, and low self-esteem. Child abuse causes long-term or sometimes permanent negative effects on the behavioral and psychological faculties of a child. This research paper focuses on the young children who become victim of physical and psychological abuse inflicted by their close family especially parents, tend to exhibit negative behavioral disorders such as aggressive behavior, Chronic Depression, Post-Traumatic Disorder and low self-esteem as compared to children who are brought up in healthy and safe environment created by their parents.
Parents and close family members play an important role in the upbringing of their children. A child is dependent upon his parents and family to develop physically and psychologically to perform well in society. Parents and close family members groom and buffer their children to get develop psychologically and behaviorally under optimal conditions. Parents act as “co-regulators “for their child’s behavioral and psychological development (Hertsgaard et al. 1995). Parents are the backbone of a child’s psychological and physical development as stated above by Hertsgaard. Unfortunately, when parents do not perform their job carefully, neglect their child, and do not pay attention to his or her behavioral patterns, the child is subjected to maltreatment and abuse. When the child suffers abuse from his close family relations such as his parents, he suffers from various psychological disorders manifesting negative behavior. According to World Health Organization’s definition in 1999, “child abuse envisages all forms of physical and/or psychological maltreatment, sexual abuse, neglecting behavior, exploitation resulting in harmful effects on health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power” (Buchart 2006). Parents need to be attentive and alert towards the small triggers their child manifests to cater to the child profoundly. The statistical report given below will validate the prime view of this study.
Recent surveys suggest that the number of child abuse is increasing with the evolution of society. Child abuse occurs at every level of society. Children who are subjected to child abuse have an increased risk of suffering from a behavioral disorders such as depression, anxiety, aggression, post-traumatic disorder, and learning problems. The statistical surveys state that around 40 million children every year become victims of child abuse all around the world. According to the 2018 statistical report of Canada, the rate of sexual/ physical abuse against youth and children was five times more intense than the abuse against adult citizens in 2006. The massive rate of child abuse is in form of physical/ sexual violence, majorly conducted by family members than strangers. According to the recent statistics, 334 people (Youth/ Under 18) out of 100 000 were the victims of sexual or physical violence by family, close friends, or strangers. Of these 334 people, 187 experienced violence at the hands of family members, and 101 children were persecuted by strangers (Burczycka 2018). By analyzing the following statistics, we can conclude that parents and close family members play a major role in child abuse.
So far we have studied the statistical analysis and the role of parents in child abuse. Aggressive behavior and chronic depression manifested by Physical abuse is a major forms of child abuse inflicted by parents and close family members. The most brutal and dangerous type of child abuse is physical abuse. Physical abuse is also associated with domestic abuse inflicted upon children by their parents and family members. Physical abuse envisages all types of physical violence inflicted upon children that cause physical harm. Various studies envisage the causal relation between rough handling of infants/children and with the emergence of psychological disorders. According to Dykes, “physical abuse in children under 18 can lead to brain disorders and sometimes death” (Dykes, 1986). We can relate to Dykes point of view to project light upon our premise of child abuse. Indeed, rough handling of infants and young children by their parents like vigorously shaking the child can cause intraocular and intracranial bleeding with no physical sign of external head injury. These internal injuries caused by physical abuse can cause long-term psychological problems in children (Dykes 1986). The young victims of physical abuse sometimes exhibit extreme behavioral problems such as aggressive behaviors. Child abuse victims brought up by physical violence are very aggressive in nature. When these victims step into adult age, they also inflict physical abuse on their family members. These victims suffer from, aggression and chronic depression.
Consequently, the behavioral pattern exhibited due to psychological abuse includes post traumatic disorder and low self-esteem. Psychological or emotional abuse envisages neglecting behavior, hate speech, and other actions that harm the child’s mind. Psychological abuse or emotional neglect refers to the behavioral pattern which negatively impacts/ impairs the child’s psychological development and destroys his/her self-esteem. Psychological abuse in children is usually inflicted by the parents or close family members. This type of abuse involves the act of insulting, threatening punishments, and name-calling. Witnessing physical abuse between parents or other family members can also cause mental trauma to the child. The neglecting behaviors of parents can cause immense psychological abuse upon children. When parents withdraw their love and emotional support from children, he or she suffers from psychological abuse. The separation/divorce and fights between the parents also have an immense effect on a child’s psychological development. Single parenthood also causes emotional neglect to the child. The consequences of psychological abuse cause long-term damage to the child’s mind. The psychological abuse victims exhibit less or no socialization. The victim shows low self-esteem and does not contribute to economic productivity. When these abuse victims grow old, they manifest an increased level of these disorders and problems which are dangerous for themselves and people around them. In psychological abuse, the behavioral patterns are not easily visible which results in the late treatment of the problem (Sometimes no treatment). Therefore it is very difficult to statistically analyze the ratio of psychological abuse inflicted by parents. Long-term psychological abuse has long-term debilitating consequences on the victim. Widom’s study states, that children subjected to childhood abuse by their parents exhibit an increased risk of chronic depression and anxiety (Widom 2007). This study validates my point of notion regarding the propelling role of parents in child abuse risks them to depression and anxiety. The children suffering from psychological or emotional abuse exhibit low self-esteem and secluded behavior. The psychological abuse victims reflect psychological disorders such as post-traumatic disorder, insecurity, and low self-esteem. Emotional neglect causes the victim to become introverted and less expressive. They indulge themselves in extreme habits like eating junk food, excessive sleeping, and screen time. The child distances himself from his family because his family is the major culprit behind his condition. They are hopeless for their academic and professional future. Parents do not tend to their child’s prosperity.
The concluding views state that parents exhibit a glaring role in the life of a child abuse victim. The child abuse victims exhibit overlapping negative behavioral patterns such as aggression, post-traumatic disorder, depression, and low self-esteem as compared to other children who are not subjected to any child abuse. The reports state that child abuse is inflicted upon children worldwide in form of infanticide, mutilation, domestic violence, abandonment, and emotional neglect by their parents. Most child abuse is common in less-income countries. The parents which have financial difficulties exhibit more child abuse. The parents inflict abuse on their children because of poor parenting skills, financial problems, stress, and conflict with their spouses. A recent study conducted by Purdue University suggests that children who are subjected to psychical or psychological abuse by their family members have a high risk of developing the disease cancer. When the child abuse victim enters adulthood age, he exhibits the problems of low self-esteem, depression, PTSD, and aggressive behavior. Physical or psychological abuse subjects the victim at great risk of engaging in dangerous behavioral patterns in his future life. Therefore, radical steps should be taken by the government and the child welfare committees to prevent child abuse inflicted by their parents. The government should conduct workshops, awareness programs, and counseling committees should be set up to counsel parents against child abuse.
Works Cited
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