Overview Of Child Maltreatment

Over the course of history, the world has endured millions of cases of child abuse. These young victims have to face all sorts of destructive abuse on a daily basis. “Maltreatment is commonly divided into four categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect” (Wissow, Lawrence S. n.p.) The listed forms of abuse are the few that lead into many harmful instances that so radically affect millions of children today. Investigating more specific cases helps reveal the roots of child abuse. “The development and application of knowledge about child maltreatment have been impeded by critical shortages of qualified researchers and mental health practitioners specializing work on the topic.” (American Psychological Association n.p.)
Children become prone to child abuse when there is failure to meet parents’ expectations, the improper usage of alcohol and/or drugs takes place by the parents, and when there is a risk of becoming victim to parents’ past violence resurfacing Parents who hold exceedingly high or unreasonable standards for children may become abusive if standards aren't met.
Abuse may be used as a substitute for a healthy, compatible relationship and inflicted by pressure, regardless of social class or financial circumstances. “Adolescents are more likely to confide and trust their parents’ counsel if an established emotional bond exists. In absence of this bond, adolescents are most likely to disregard advice and rules established by parents.” (Aceves, Cookston 3). This quote highlights the significance of a relationship being valued over demanding expectations. Violence may occur if failure to achieve standards takes places. “Cases of fatal physical abuse among middle class families have challenged the stereotype that violence in the home occurs only among the poor and disadvantaged.” (Wissow n.p.). Parents of all social ranks have been reported to abuse children due to lack of success in reaching parents’ expectations. Despite the current situations the family encounters, parents are still known to display violence. An inadequacy of a relationship regardless of the class of a family are factors that cause child abuse when there is failure to meet an oppressive parent’s
expectations. Anyone who intakes excessive amounts of drugs or alcohol becomes prone to violence. This is why parental figures should stay away from these harmful substances, especially when around children. Children become potential targets for aggression from substance intoxication. “Child abuse thrives in the shadows of privacy and secrecy. It lives by inattention” (Helfer et. al.). An unfortunate factor for defining abuse is the privacy it takes place in, especially in drug/alcohol caused abuse instances. Inside the homes of violent homes, years could go by without notice or report of abuse coming from improper usage of substances. “The challenge is understanding child maltreatment from the advantage point of different cultures…” (Helfer et. al.). Pointing out aggression from intoxicated parents can be difficult to depict. The thought of if parents are truly physically harming the child or if I'll is just scared can greatly affect the determination of abuse. Defining abuse from drug or alcohol intoxication can be complicated, but the child’s well being holds the greater cost. Past abuse to a parent commonly leads to future abuse to children as an adult. If a child is abused and not properly recovered mentally and emotionally, there is risk that the child may carry out abusive behaviors as an adult. “Psychological testing or psychiatric evaluation of parents may be decisive importance in those cases in which a parent is significantly cognitively limited or has a major mental disorder.” (Helfer, Mary Edna et. al. 150). When evaluating child abuse, clarity on the history and mental status of the abuser may hold answers as to why the child is being abused. A parent who has undergone traumatic or unusual experiences may be susceptible to abuse. “An array of negative social and psychological outcomes have been associated with violent victimization during adolescence.” (Aceves, Mario J. et. al.) All sorts of abuse is caused by the victimization of abuse as a child. Violence leads to violence, sexual assault leads to sexual assault, verbal taunting leads to verbal taunting; it's a cycle of repeating abuse. Unfortunate abuse as a child can leave scars that cause abusive behaviors that are carried into adulthood. Investigating certain cases of child abuse has uncovered many reasons as to why people do it.
“Because victimization may offer individuals information about how to respond to threats, victimization illustrates a potential threat for an expanding population of aggressive individuals.” (Aceves, Mario J. et. al 2) Strict parents with unreasonable standards use violence as a punishment or to motivate the child. Parents who are addicts to drugs or alcohol have a tendency to be violent with children. Experiencing abuse from parents as child may lead to future violence to children from the abused. “Violence against children has been manifested in every conceivable manner: physically, emotionally, through neglect, by sexual exploitation, and by child labor.” (Helfer et. al. 3) Children become prone to child abuse when there is failure to meet parents’ expectations, the improper usage of alcohol and/or drugs takes place by the parents, and when there is a risk of becoming victim to parents’ past violence
resurfacing.