CHILD

ABUSE
FOUR ISSUES OF ABUSE…
1. PHYSICAL ABUSE
2. SEXUAL ABUSE
3. EMOTIONAL ABUSE
4. NEGLECT

Abuse is cyclical in nature. That means it often

runs in cycles: the great-grandparents abused the
grandparents, and grandparents abused the
parents, and parents abuse their children, and the
children will eventually turn out to be abusers also.
Abuse is a “learned” behavior. The potential
“abuser” needs to learn an alternative method to
abusive behaviors. This happens with education
OR therapy interventions, not just desire not to
abuse.
PHYSICAL ABUSE…
Bruises, lacerations and abrasions,
skeletal injuries, head injuries, and
internal injuries from hitting, shaking,
twisting, pulling, punching, beating
with the hand or an object, biting,
force feeding, and kicking.
Burns from cigarettes, hot liquids,
confinement ropes or irons.
 EMOTIONAL ABUSE…
Abusing a victim emotionally is considered a
pattern of behavior that can seriously
interfere with a child's positive development.
Emotional abuse is probably the least
understood of all child abuse, and can be the
cruelest and most destructive of all types of
abuse. It includes rejecting, ignoring,
isolating, terrorizing, and corrupting.
Because emotional abuse
attacks the child's psyche and
self-concept, the victim comes
to see him or herself as
unworthy of love and affection.
Children who are constantly
shamed, humiliated, terrorized
or rejected suffer at least as
much, if not more, than if they
had been physically assaulted.
An infant who is being severely
deprived of basic emotional
nurturing, even though
physically well cared for, can fail
to thrive and can eventually die.
Less severe forms of early
emotional deprivation may
produce babies who grow into
anxious and insecure children
who are slow to develop or who
might have low self-esteem.
 Child sexual abuse is any
sexual act with a child SEXUAL ABUSE
performed by an adult or an
older child. This might be
fondling the child's genitals;
getting the child to fondle an
adult's genitals; mouth to
genital contact; rubbing an
adult's genitals on the child;
or actually penetrating the
child's vagina or anus with a
body part or object.
Other forms of abuse can
also occur that are not as
easy to detect. These
include showing an adult's
genitals to a child, showing
the child pornographic or
"dirty" pictures or Child molesters often “groom” their victims by giving
videotapes, or using the them attention, affection, or gifts. The trauma can be
child as a model to make so great, the victim may even “repress” the memory.
Child molesters are most often someone the child
pornographic materials. knows…and NOT a stranger.
 This little girl longs to go to school, but is
forced to stay home and care for an alcohol
dependent mother.

NEGLECT
The difference between abuse and
neglect is that abuse represents an
action against a child while neglect
represents a lack of action for the child.

Not meeting a child's essential needs for food,

clothing, and shelter is the most basic form of
neglect. But there are many other forms. Parents
may not obtain preventive dental or medical care for
the child, such as vaccinations and routine physical
examinations. Parents may delay obtaining medical
care when the child is ill, putting the child at risk of
more severe illness and even death. Parents may not
make sure the child attends school or is privately
A hungry child with a
schooled. Parents may leave a child in the care of a diaper heavy with urine
person who is known to be abusive, or may leave a and feces, long past
young child unattended. changing time.
 VICTIM PROFILE…
From nearly 1,800,000 referrals of suspected child abuse, approximately 896,000
cases were verified as abuse, which constituted an annual incidence of 5.7 per
1000 children. The victims often hide the abuse to protect the offender, either
because they have been threatened or because they are fearful.
Approximately:
60% were victims of neglect
20% were victims of physical
abuse
10% were victims of sexual
abuse
7% were victims of emotional
abuse

Children ages birth to 3 years

had the highest rates of
victimization. Girls were slightly
more likely to be victims than
boys, but boys suffered more
serious injuries.
While the rate of White victims of child abuse or
neglect was 10.7 per 1,000 children of the same
race, the rate for American Indian or Alaska Natives
was 21.7 per 1,000 children and for African-
Americans 20.2 per 1,000 children.
 OFFENDER PROFILE…
Being a single parent, being poor, having problems with drug or alcohol
abuse, or having a mental health problem such as a personality disorder,
depression, trouble coping with stress, a hot temper, immaturity, little
knowledge of parenting skills, having feelings of isolation, or low self-esteem
can make a parent more likely to neglect or abuse a child…but it comes in all
looks, and crosses over all social, educational, age, and economic levels.
Perpetrator has history of
being abused themselves.
May have difficulty with
emotions and interpersonal
skills. They seek power and
control.
If abuser is not a family
member or friend, it is often a
caregiver or someone in a
service-oriented profession or
position. May be over-
protective or possessive. May
be dominating or have
unrealistic expectations of a
child.
 SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE…
Unusual sexual behavior or knowledge
Eating and/or sleeping pattern changes
Change in school performance and relationships
with peers
Inappropriate touching of others
Compulsive behaviors or extreme tantrums
Promiscuity, prostitution or substance abuse
Suicidal thoughts and/or depression
Chronic somatic problems such as stomach
aches, vomiting, or headaches.
Affectionless or overly affectionate
Aggressive behaviors at school or toward
siblings, possessions, or pets
Destruction of property, arson, vandalism, truancy
Tries to make people angry at them Note...
Withdrawn or social isolated One or more of these characteristics
present at any given time does not
Clinging – a need for reassurance necessarily indicate child sexual abuse. In
Verbally abusive cases of abuse, these behaviors overlap
Angry, hateful, negative attitude and are frequently excessive, for a
May hurt themselves; self destructive activities substantial period of time.
Age regression or infantile behavior
EFFECTS OF ABUSE…
Factors research has shown to influence the
effects of abuse:
Age of the child when the abuse happened;
younger is usually more harmful. Who
committed the abuse; effects are generally
worse when it was a parent, step-parent or
trusted adult than a stranger. Whether the child
told anyone, and if so, the person's
response. Doubting, ignoring, blaming and
shaming responses can be extremely harmful -
in some cases even more than the abuse itself.
Whether or not violence was involved, and if so, Victims may have experienced
how severe. How long the abuse went on. dissociation (feeling separate from
Whether the abuse involved deliberately their body) and may even have
humiliating the child. How "normal" such abuse delayed recall of the abuse. They often
was in the extended family and local culture. have behavioral difficulties, increased
Whether the child had loving family members, incidence of juvenile delinquency and
and/or knew that someone loved her or him. adult criminality, alcohol and drug
Whether the child had some good relationships - abuse problems, physical health
with siblings, friends, teachers, coaches, etc. problems, poor mental and emotional
Whether the child had any relationships in which health, social difficulties with peers
"negative" feelings were acceptable, and could and adults, and display abusive
be expressed and managed safely and behavior toward others (especially
constructively. their own children).
MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY
Münchausen Syndrome
by Proxy
was named after an 18th
century dignitary named
Baron von Munchausen
who was known for telling
exaggerated stories.
Individuals who exhibit the
characteristics of this
syndrome fabricate,
exaggerate, or cause
illness or sickness, usually Researchers first began to recognize this pattern
of their own child. MSBP is of abuse in the 1970s. The exact psychological
a form of child abuse and basis for MSBP is not known. Some people believe
can prove fatal. The abuser it is a complex way of seeking attention. The
is most often the mother. mother plays the role of a dedicated and attentive
Children subjected to this caregiver, a constant bedside martyr who
form of abuse may be sacrifices her own time and happiness to sit,
hospitalized repeatedly and worry, and care about her child. She receives
undergo numerous praise for her dedication and stamina in putting
surgeries. her child’s needs above her own day after day.
 REPORT CHILD ABUSE…
Some people are afraid to make this phone call, for fear
that police rush in and tear apart families. Wrong! Your
call will prompt an investigation, and may save a child.
This phone call can be made anonymously.

HelpStop
Child Abuse
Call the Abuse/Neglect Hotline at
1-800-652-1999
Calling from Outside of Nebraska
402-595-1324
State law requires any person who suspects that a child has been
physically or sexually abused or neglected to report it promptly to the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Do not use e-mail to report cases of abuse. Do not investigate yourself.
If there is an emergency, call local law enforcement immediately.
Individuals working with children can forfeit their license or certification for
failure to report suspected abuse.
CHILDHELP USA® NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE
1-800-4-A-CHILD® 24 HOURS A DAY
CHILD
ABUSE
Child abuse statistics are reported by the National Clearinghouse on
Child Abuse and Neglect or NCCAN. Information is collected on
studies conducted by the federally funded Third National Incidence
Study (NIS-3) OF 2002, and updated in 2005.
• Preparing individuals for life and work
• Strengthening families
• Empowering communities

Created by Barbara L. Swarthout, Family & Consumer

Sciences teacher at Elkhorn High School