Child Abuse And Neglect Experiences

This paper discusses several articles, as well as some college texts, that define and illuminate the four main types of child abuse that exist within the United States. It also discusses some of the effects of abuse and attempts to offer some solutions for this very prevalent societal problem. The definitions of child abuse and neglect vary, based on the context in which they have been studied. Some studies suggest that neglect is the most prevalent type of child abuse in this country. Kaplan, Schene, DePanfilis, and Gilmore assert that neglect becomes chronic when its occurrence is not only ongoing, but seriously deprives a child of basic physical, developmental, and/or emotional needs by someone who cares for them. Whatever

Many scholars have stated that child neglect is the most common form of maltreatment. Neglect is less obvious than physical or sexual abuse, and it may take years for outsiders to ever notice that a child is a victim. Neglect has many faces, forms, and appearances. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), of the approximately 681,000 children in the United States who were victims of abuse and neglect in 2011, 78.5 percent (531,000 children) suffered from neglect alone, including medical neglect (USDHHS, 2011). In the US, there are many children who are experiencing neglect from their parents or caregivers, and often times it goes unreported. In this paper I will discuss what is child neglect, what the many causes of neglect are, the different types of neglect, long-term effects, and how to recognize the signs of neglect: physical and behavioral indicators.

Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) states “the domains of child maltreatment include both child abuse (wilful acts such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse which harm a child) and neglect (failure to provide for a child’s basic needs) (Fontes, 2005)” (Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura 2015, p. 3). These areas will have a life-altering impact on a child’s life and it might change how they view people and things around them. Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) states “neglect, as a form of child maltreatment, can take many forms such as failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, medical care, emotional care or education” ((Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura 2015, p. 3). Neglect is also big issue just as Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) mentioned, not giving a sufficient amount of food, not providing them with emotional support or proper education or medical care could put a child in this category. Therefore, simply providing a child with their basic needs can solve the problem, although not everyone can afford this basic needs because of life’s situations. Situation like poverty, lack of work, and others can cause this to happen. This is why Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) also states that “Child Neglect can often be confounded by poverty, inadequate housing and dangerous neighbourhoods as parents or caretakers have fewer resources to provide children with the care they need (Jonson-Reid, Drake, & Zhou, 2013)” ((Tufford, Bogo, &

Traumatizing experiences caused by poor parenting and abuse lead many to psychopathic behavior and to lifelong problems. Antisocial disorder is a common outcome to those brutal situations, causing one to not associate with anyone, to have trust issues, and causing emotional instability (Spila, Mikara, kozak, and Urbanska, 2008). Review of literature indicates that most psychologist believe that one is made, not born a psychotic. They believe that one is more influenced by their environment, yet they do think that biological factors play a role in psychopaths along with that (Ramsland, n.d.). The more traumatized you are and the more problems you face in the future is most likely related to how young you were when you were physically or mentally abused (Sullivan, 1989). Abuse that is traumatizing causes many life threatening issues later on in your life, along with problems with your personality and social life (Harper, 2007).

The lack of supplies could lead to abused children, not very many people are aware of how sensitive as well as commonly overlooked. It could be as common as people not seeing little things in the child’s behavior or their actions. Sometimes it can even been seen in the parents it some cases. “Child abuse crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines.(neglect)” “In the United States child neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment.(american humane)” “According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) of the approximately 890,000 children in the U.S. who were victims of abuse and neglect in 2005, 62.8 percent (564,757 children) suffered from neglect alone, including medical neglect (USDHHS,2007).(american

Throughout history, children have been long subjected to numerous forms of cruel abuses such as neglect, which includes not receiving the proper care and attention, and sexual or physical abuse which involves violence towards the child in a sexual or physical manner. Abuse triggers something inside the child that can turn them into a rebellious, often ill-mannered person. It is believed that those who exhibit the more violent criminal tendencies are more likely to have been victims of abuse at some point in their lives.

Abuse and neglect during childhood can have an impact on an abuse victim’s health and psychology, because a victim’s brain does not properly develop during childhood. Abuse during childhood has been attributed to psychological and behavioral disorders as well as physical ailments. These disorders can stem or bloom in adolescently or adulthood.

In the article, “Experiencing Child Abuse,” Dr. Kinard sought to understand the potential effects that physical abuse might have on the child’s emotional adjustment and development. In the introduction, Dr. Kinard expresses that her paper is going to explore the impact of the abuse experience of children, as well as subsequent interventions on the emotional development of the abused children. Though she states that during her research she tested both abused and non-abused children the research and findings that she will discuss, are only pertaining to the sample of child abuse victims. There was no clear hypothesis stated within the introduction.

Child neglect is prevalent in every community in every state. There has long since been a debate about child neglect and how it is defined. According to (Childwelfare.gov.) historically the debate over child neglect has caused issues with policies, practice, and research. Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 defined child neglect as any recent to act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caregiver, which results in death, serious physical, or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm, (Childwelfare.gov).

“Over the years, my mom kicked and beat me, throttled me, threw me down the stairs and pushed me into a scalding hot bath. She once held my head under the water and another time she shoved a full bar of soap in my mouth. There are too many incidents to recount” (NCPCC). These words came directly from a child who experienced physical abuse from his own mother. Maltreatment of children has multiple forms including neglect, physical abuse, as well as sexual abuse which all produce a variety of negative effects; effects that not only harm the child as he or she grows but can also be found in adulthood.

Precious and her first child by her father, whom she named Little Mongo, is used by her mother as a means of survival to receive welfare checks. Aside from her abuse, Precious is forced to cook, clean and attend to her non-ambulatory mom, Mary. Carl, her dad, continuously rapes her under the assumption that she “likes it and dies for it” (Sapphire, 1997, p. 24), even though her body is responding accordingly to its biological function. While she is raped, she is disembodied and copes with her abuse by occupying her mind with thoughts of “changing bodies” (Sapphire, 1997, p. 24). As an underprivileged African American residing in Harlem, she authenticates the embedded societal value of being “light skinned, thereby treated right and loved by boyz” (Sapphire, 1997, p. 113). Her hardships and the realization of not fitting into that criteria, makes her wish that she wasn’t alive and entertains thoughts of suicide (Sapphire, 1997).

Child neglect affect many children around the world. There many type of neglect; there are emotional, physical, medical and emotional neglect. Abandonment is an extreme type of neglect. A neglected child develop symptoms. Many children around the world suffers from neglect and have to go through therapy.

Child abuse and neglect reports have more than doubled in the past two decades. Children are abused in many different ways every day and many abuse and neglect cases go unreported every year. Some of the many ways children are the most commonly heard of ones: kicking, punching, hitting. Some children also have to drink cleaning supplies, sleep in cold, dark basements, and go weeks without any food at all. However, all of the above may happen, and outsiders still would not report a suspicion of child abuse or neglect to anyone at all.

Planning what is good for the child can help the child not suffer depression and grow up being with anxiety.

The issue of child abuse and neglect is serious, controversial, and is escalating in today’s society. Many people are not aware, but child abuse is rampant in our society. Many child abuse and neglect cases go unreported because a person may not know the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect or perhaps the person or person may feel that this is an private issue and needs to be handle with in the home and no outsiders should be involved. Without the proper awareness of child abuse and neglect and the involvement of everyone this issue will continue to raise our eyebrows.