Child abuse is the physical or psychological mistreatment of a child by his or her parents (including adoptive parents), guardians, or other adults. While this term emphasizes on carrying out wrong acts, a related term is child neglect: not doing what is necessary, negligence. The combined problem area is often called child abuse and neglect. Below the term abuse is used in the generalized meaning which also includes neglect. Child abuse is not limited to people in the lower class of society, and middle and upper class child abuse does exist.
While there are many different types and degrees of abuse, the one thing they all have in common is the failure to look after a child's long-term interest. Children, by nature, are mostly attuned to the "here and now," and quite dependent on adults for guidance. When that guidance goes wrong, oftentimes for some adult's unhealthy psychological short-term "need," child abuse is the result. Children may be completely unaware of the long lasting effects of the abuse, and simply want it to stop--or in some case, not even aware that they're being abused at all.
In very general terms, child abuse can be divided into two categories. If, for example, a child is being beaten, that is very serious, and should be dealt with immediately. Even if it never occurs again, the child has nonetheless been abused. On the other hand, if a child doesn't eat breakfast on one occasion, that is unlikely to cause any long-term effects. Missing breakfast every morning, however, is much more serious. Thus, it becomes abuse only if it's habitual.
In intercultural cases, unless the child is in immediate danger, it is best to seek guidance from responsible adults within the child's own ethnic group before making any judgments. Serious mistakes and false accusations have been made by those who have acted too quickly. Also, in other countries, the semantics (meaning of words) related to children can vary. For example, the word "infant" in French is easily recognized even by someone who does not speak the language ("enfant"). However, it refers not only to infants, but older children as well. In the Indian Subcontinent, the words "boy" and "girl" refer to anyone (even adults) who are not married--no matter what their age. In addition, certain Latin derived words seemingly associated with child abuse may have an innocent meaning. For example, "no molestar" in Spanish simply means "do not disturb."
It should be noted that any child who is not living with their natural (birth) parents is at greater risk of abuse. This includes foster parents, step parents, and adoptive parents--regardless of any screening and/or application process they may have gone through. Non-natural fathers are at much higher risk of committing acts of abuse on children who are not their genetic offspring.
Symptoms
Medical and other types of professionals have learned to recognize a list of common symptoms of child abuse.
- Emotional abuse
- emotional withdrawal/distance
- parental refusal of needed medical care
- premature sexual/romantic promiscuity for girls
- lack of sexual interest (e.g. dating) for boys (with respect to age, cultural, and religious beliefs)
- shyness
- child seems afraid of parents/care givers
- stunting of mental/emotional growth
- failure to look people in the eye
- temper tantrums/violence
- speech and language difficulties
- Neglect (Under protection)
- general dirtiness
- general unhealthiness
- lice, fleas and similar parasites
- parental refusal of needed medical care
- stunting of mental/emotional growth
- too thin, not within normal weight range for age and gender
- alcohol/drug abuse by parents/care givers
- Parents/care givers often (but not always) have low education and income
- Physical abuse see also Spanking
- emotional withdrawal/distance
- over aggressive behavior (especially boys)
- distinctively shaped scars, most especially:
- temper tantrums/violence
- parental refusal of needed medical care
- child seems afraid of parents/care givers
- bullying of other children
- alcohol abuse by parents/care givers
- Shaken baby syndrome
- Sexual abuse see also Age of consent
- emotional withdrawal/distance
- injured vagina or anus
- semen in the vagina or anus
- parental refusal of needed medical care
- unusually early preoccupation with sex
- Isolation and over protection see also Munchausen_syndrome_by_proxy
- emotional withdrawal/distance
- shyness; few, if any, friends
- stunting of mental/emotional growth
- excelling at school in younger years, then gradually doing poorly in the teen years
- failure to look people in the eye
- temper tantrums/anger/violence directed only at parents/care givers (otherwise very well-behaved)
- speech and language difficulties
- fearful and afraid of new relationships
- lack of sexual interest (e.g. dating) for boys (with respect to age, cultural, and religious beliefs)
- procrastination as the child becomes older and more independent
- unable to take care of self with respect to age
- being bullied by other children
- child rarely seen in public (except possibly school)
- parents/care givers often (but not always) well educated
- greater risk if family resides in outlying suburban or rural area
Authorities
Authorities protecting children may be called Child Protective Services (CPS), Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), etc. The profession may be called "children's social worker" (CSW).
Child abuse by authorities
Schools and correctional facilities are frequently charged with child abuse. One particularly notorious program is the Tranquility Bay operation on Jamaica run by the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools.
See also
External links
Further reading
