Child Abuse & Its Consequences - Essay Example

? Child Abuse Introduction Child abuse is a big social problem not only in under developed countries but also in developed countries as well. Even the most civilized country America is not free from child abuse incidents. Children during their developmental stages need adequate care from their parents to become good citizens of the country. Instead of care, many of the children are facing physical, psychological and emotional abuse. A child may normally undergo physical abuse in his family or in school. Teachers and parents often punish children for their mistakes. Psychological and emotional abuse also occurs mostly in family and society in which the child frequently interacts. For example, bullying is a common activity facing by majority of the children in their schools. Sexual abuse is the most severe form of child abuse. Child sexual abuse is one of the most common social problems in all parts of the world. “Child sexual abuse occurs when a child is used for the sexual gratification of an older adolescent or adult. It also involves the abuse of power that an adult has over a child”(Adult survivors of child sexual abuse, n.d., p.1). Even though girls are facing this problem too often, the cases of boys are also not much different. Briere (1992) quoted six studies of female inpatients or outpatients and mentioned that sexual abuse rate as somewhere between 36% and 51% among them (Briere, 1992, p.5). It should be noted that these studies were conducted in the 1990’s. The current statistics should be extremely more than the above statistics. Victimization during childhood may have lasting effects on the life of the children throughout his life span. Since life experiences shape the personality and character of a child, bitter childhood experiences may cause immense harm to the development of the child in the right direction. This paper analyses child abuse and its consequences to the society. Child abuse & its consequences “Like the larger society, psychoanalysis discovered, denied, rediscovered, re-denied and is currently discovering yet again the childhood sexual trauma as a etiological factor in later psychopathology” (Davies & Frawley, 1994, p.11). Psychopathology is the study of mental illness and abnormal behavior. Mental illness among the current generation is growing at a faster rate than the physical problems. Even though many reasons were attributed to the growing rates of psychological problems, childhood trauma seems to be the prominent reason for psychological problems later in the life of a person. Many people have the false belief that a child may forget the bitter experiences in the long run. In fact whatever the bitter experiences faced by a child will be stored in his subconscious mind and it will come out later in his life. Davies & Frawley (1994) pointed out that “Any psychoanalytic consideration of childhood sexual abuse should begin with Freud’s development and later renunciation of the seduction theory, a paradigm stipulating that hysterical neurosis derives from early sexual seductions” (Davies & Frawley, 1994, p.11). Sigmund Freud after comprehensive studies pointed out that hysteria and obsessional neurosis are caused by a repressed memory which is developed because of early childhood sexual abuse or molestation experience. Sexual experiences may enhance the physical and mental health of the adults; however, in the case of children below a particular age, these experiences may cause more harm than good. It should be noted that adults are well prepared both mentally and physically to enjoy sexual activities whereas children are neither prepared physically nor mentally to enjoy sexual activities. Thus sexual activities may cause physical as well as psychological injuries to the child. Physical injuries may be cured over a time period; but the mental injuries may be stored in the child’s mind if untreated. “Some psychoanalytic writers speak eloquently of the long term developmental failures and particular vicissitudes of unconscious fantasy, especially sadomasochistic fantasy found among adult survivors of child sexual abuse” (Davies & Frawley, 1994, p.2). “An individual who was sexually abused as a child is an adult survivor of child sexual abuse”(Adult survivors of child sexual abuse, n.d., p.1). Since most of the child sexual abuse cases occur in a secret environment, nobody will be aware of it until the child or the victim reveals it. In many cases, the child may not reveal such cases because of the fear of punishments from the offender. It should be noted that the offenders in child sexual abuse cases will be mostly the beloved ones from the family itself. Girls are most likely to be abused by family members, especially stepfathers, while boys are more likely to be abused outside the family. Girls may be more vulnerable to sexual abuse because the people most likely to abuse them are right in their homes. For girls, approximately half of perpetrators are family members; for boys only 10 to 20% are. While fathers and stepfathers are the most likely to abuse, other family members can also be abusive including brothers, uncles, grandfathers and “friends of the family” (Tackett, Ph.D, 2001, p.2) Thus, the victimized child forced to suppress his feelings and emotions and nobody will notice it. In other words, the victimized child may grow just like other children, but in his/her inner minds, he/she will keep the black records of his/her childhood bitter experiences. “Studies of abused children demonstrate an inverse relationship between the degree of psychopathology and the age of onset of abuse”(Herman, 1997, p.60). In other words children who faced sexual abuse at an early age may develop more psychological problem than the children who faced similar problems during later childhood. This is because of the fact that child is getting more and more ready for sexual activities as time goes on therefore he will take such experiences not much negatively during late childhood. Herman (1997) pointed out that “To hold traumatic reality in consciousness requires a social context that affirms protects the victim and that joins victim and witness in a common alliance” (Herman, 1997, p.9). In other words, sexually abused children fears social consequences more than his/her psychological consequences. In many societies, sexually abused children are witnessed in a separate manner. It is difficult for such children to get a partner later during their life. Even though virginity is losing its importance in the contemporary society, still many people secretly like to have virgins as their partners. Thus, sexually victimized children may face severe discrimination in the society which will destroy their mental health more than what the destruction caused to it due to the actual sexual abuse incident. “The abused child feels that she has been abandoned to her fate and this abandonment often resented more keenly than the abuse itself” (Herman, 1997, p.101) Most typically, child maltreatment in this category consists of psychological neglect. Psychological neglect of children generally refers to sustained parental nonresponsiveness and psychological or physical unavailability, such that the child is deprived of normal psychological stimulation, soothing, and support. One of the most obvious impacts of child neglect is its tendency to decrease the extent to which secure parent-child attachment can occur. As a result, the neglected child will not be as likely as others to encounter benign interactive experiences that teach self-awareness, self security, positive views of others, and the development of regulated affective responses to interpersonal challenges (Briere, Ph.D, 2002, p.1-2). Briere (1992) pointed out that “If untreated, any form of sexual victimization in childhood increases the risk of mental health problems” (Briere, 1992, p.5). It is difficult to predict the psychological consequences of childhood sexual abuse. Different victims may show different psychological problems later in their life. For example, many studies have proved that the possibility of people becoming psychopaths if they were exploited sexually during childhood cannot be ruled out. Anxiety, lack of self-esteem and depression are some other psychological problems developed by sexually abused victims later in their life. According to Howell (2005), “All humans share in the common dilemma of dissociative response to trauma” (Howell, 2005, p.107). Bitter childhood experiences may generate dissociative disorders among victims later in their life. “The causes of dissociative disorders are complex. Studies show that a history of trauma, usually abuse in childhood, is almost always the case for people who have moderate to severe dissociative symptoms”(Understanding dissociative disorders, 2012). Dissociative disorders can be defined in simple terms as the detachment from the real world. A person with dissociative disorder may lose sense of reality, feelings, thoughts, sensations, perceptions and memories. “Brothers and sisters will sometimes experiment, exploring sexuality. In alcoholic families, where boundaries and roles aren’t clear, it’s much more likely to see brothers and sisters who have experimented”(Sexual Abuse / Trauma, 2006). Environment plays an important role in causing sexual abuse among children. It should be noted that children during their adolescence are vulnerable to sexual feelings. They don’t know much about the consequences of childhood sexual activities. In many cases, the bodily needs may overrule morality and ethics and even brothers and sisters sometimes experiment sexual activities. Only later, they will realize their mistake and they may develop psychological problems from the guilt feeling. Most of the rape cases are happening because of the suitable environment created knowingly or unknowingly. A person who is decent in the society can become an animal if he gets proper environment as seen in many cases of children’s sexual abuse by the elders. In short, suitable environment plays an important role in causing child abuse, especially sex abuse. Apart from environment, heredity also plays an important role in causing child abuse. A child who is born to the parents who had the history of sexually abusing others may generate the same tendency later in his/her life. “Young Muslim girls in Toronto schools are being targeted for sexual assaults because attackers consider them less likely to report the incidents to authorities” (Marlow, 2007). Many people have the misconception that Muslim community is keeping a liberal attitude towards sexual activities. This is because of the fact that Muslims can marry more than one woman. Thus people have the feeling that Muslim girls may take any sexual abuse against them lightly. However, such abusers are forgetting the fact that childhood is a period in which cultural aspects or life styles have less significance. In other words, children of all religions may think almost in the same manner. They will think differently only after they become adults. Dating is an accepted life style in western culture even though it is not so in other cultures. Dating is often believed as the license for sexual activities by the westerners. People in western societies may have the feeling that people in dating relationships have more liberal views about sexual activities and therefore they can be easily exploited. “While physical abuse might be the most visible sign, other types of abuse, such as emotional abuse or child neglect, also leave deep, long lasting scars” (Saisan et al., 2012). Some people have the belief that child abuse means some kind of physical or mental torture to the children. However, child neglect can be labeled under child abuse. It should be noted that many of the parents of the modern era are working professionals. As a result of that such parents leave their children in baby care or day care centers under the control of nannies. Nannies can never be the substitutes for parents. Father’s protection and mothers love and affection are vital in the development of the children. It is the moral right of the children to get care from their parents. Lack of parental care during developmental stages may force the children to become antisocial humans when they grow up. Children who fail to get enough care and affection from the parents may develop a vengeance towards a society which denied them such luxuries. His vengeance may come out in the forms of antisocial behaviors later in his life. While it's easy to say that only "bad people" abuse their children, it's not always so black and white. Not all abusers are intentionally harming their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves, and don’t know any other way to parent. Others may be struggling with mental health issues or a substance abuse problem. Child abuse doesn't only happen in poor families or bad neighborhoods. It crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors (Saisan et al., 2012). Child abuse is taking place in many forms among poor as well as rich people. In other words, child abuse has nothing to do with the socioeconomic background of a family. The reasons for child abuse could be different in different communities and families. But it is reality everywhere. For example, some people have the belief that punishment is necessary to correct the children. In other words, they do believe that punishment help the children to become good citizens later. It should be noted that severe punishments always bring more harm than good. It is difficult for the children to digest the life philosophies of their parents. It is difficult for them to believe that their parents are punishing them to make them better in life. For them, punishment from the parents is a sign of dislike towards them. Thus, they may develop a feeling that they are unwanted elements in family and the society. These feelings may force them to engage in antisocial behaviors. Instead of punishment, love and care seem to be the best treatment for rectifying the mistakes of the children. Children are always in need of the parental love. They are ready to change their behaviors if the parents give them more love and care in return. A behavior injected in the minds of children through love and care may last long whereas a behavior cultivated in the minds of children through punishment may be short lived. Conclusions Child abuse cases are growing everywhere because of various reasons. It is common among all cultures, regions and families even though the reasons are different. Physical, psychological and emotional abuses are taking place against many of the children all over the world. Among the most common child abuse types, sexual abuse seems to be the most prominent one. Many of the children all over the world are facing sexual abuse from their family or beloved ones itself. Girls are usually exploited sexually in the family whereas boys are usually exploited sexually in the society. Childhood bitter experiences may cause huge problems to the development of the children as good citizens of the country. Lot of psychological problems may develop in the minds of the victim which will later transform in to antisocial behaviors. Many of the psychological problems developed during adulthood are caused by childhood traumas. Anxiety, depression, lack of self-esteem, abnormal behaviors etc are some of the psychological problems developed as a result of child abuse. Children, who had undergone severe sexual exploitation, may become psychopaths later in their life. In short, child abuse is a social evil which can cause huge problems in the society and it should be prevented as much as possible. References 1. Adult survivors of child sexual abuse, n. d. Health Canada. [Online] Available at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H72-22-12-1993E.pdf [Accessed 31 March 2012] 2. Briere, J. Ph.D. 2002. Treating adult survivors of severe childhood abuse and neglect: Further development of an integrative model. [Online] Available at: http://www.delphicentre.com.au/STM1.pdf [Accessed 31 March 2012] 3. Briere, J. 1992. Child Abuse Trauma: Theory and Treatment of the lasting Effects Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc (September 21, 1992) 4. Davies, J.M. & Frawley, M.G.1994. Treating Adult survivors of child Sexual abuse. Publisher: Basic Books; 1 edition (March 21, 1994) 5. Herman, J. 1997. Trauma and Recovery. Publisher: Basic Books; 14th printing edition (May 30, 1997) 6. Howell, E. 2005. Treating dissociative mind. Routledge, 26-Oct-2005 7. Marlow, I. 2007. Cultural Beliefs May Spur Sex Attacks, Official Says, [Online] Available at: http://www.thestar.com/article/231401 [Accessed 31 March 2012] 8. Sexual Abuse / Trauma. 2006. [Online] Available at: http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/sexual_abuse.htm [Accessed 31 March 2012] 9. Saisan, J. M.,S.W., Smith, M., M.A., and Segal, J.,Ph.D. 2012. Child Abuse and Neglect. [Online] Available at: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm [Accessed 31 March 2012] 10. Tackett, K.K. Ph.D, 2001. The Long Shadow: Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse. [Online] Available at: http://www.breastfeedingmadesimple.com/thelongshadowHFM.pdf [Accessed 31 March 2012] 11. Understanding dissociative disorders. 2012. [Online] Available at: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/dissociative_disorders [Accessed 31 March 2012] Read More