Sociological Theory In Social Work

Thurston (2006) explains that there are several causes of child abuse, but according to all the theories, there are three main causes of child abuse (Thurston, 2006, para.2). The first main cause is psychological,” the psychological theories argue that an individual who abuses has an innate characteristic that places them at greater risk of abusing, their motivation being linked to biological or instinctive features of human behavior. Child abuse may also be seen to be the result of a career’s deprived learning experiences, which may lead to inadequate controlling techniques when trying to manage children’s behavior. ”(Thurston, 2006, psychological cause, para.3). The second cause is social psychological, and this theory is mainly based on

Nor is there any single description that captures all families in which children are victims of abuse and neglect” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children 's Bureau, 2003). Research has recognized that there are numerous risk factors or characteristics parents or caregivers may show or have experienced that could increase the likelihood of child maltreatment, e.g., financial instability, participation in social service programs, family factors such as: age, personality, substance abuse, history of maltreatment stress, domestic violence; environmental factors and disabilities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children 's Bureau, 2003 & 2015). Because of the data, these commonalities are able to be precursors leading up to child abuse or maltreatment but many times it is hard to measure the severity of them and therefore they may end up undetected (U.S DHHSA

According to Kolk, Hopper and Crozier, all forms of maltreatment have the ability to have significant lasting effects on “cognition, behavior, affect and social interaction.” And can affect neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine systems as well as the immune system of a child. The level of trauma experienced is subjective to the child’s background, age, and environment; amongst numerous other factors but it’s usually affected with an experience of child abuse. It is rather important to note that as the statistics show, all types of abuse, not only neglect have the ability to create major negative impacts in any child’s brain development. Every type of abuse may give us a clue as to why we still see high levels of crime, violence, and further abuse to continue to haunt the world today.

In the article “ The Developmental Impact of Child Abuse on Adulthood: Implications for Counselors,” Adultspan Journal explains the multiple effects of child abuse. The authors April Sikes and Dancia Hays explain how child abuse has an extremely negative effect on children as they transition into adulthood. These effects can be physical, social, and even mental. Being treated badly as a child increases the risks in social development. Some examples of this are substance abuse, criminal behavior, violence, and risky sexual behavior.

Abuse is another thing that has been linked, to problems in a child 's development. The earlier abuse and neglect occur in a child 's life the more severe the impact. Furthermore, the stage of development, while the abuse occurs will influence the type and severity of the consequences. Additionally, the more chronic and long lasting the abuse and neglect, the more harmful it is. When the abuse and neglect are caused, by parents or another significant figure a child, becomes confused because their supposed source of safety is the source of their harm.(Frederico 343).

Social work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and enhance wellbeing of individuals, families, couples, groups, and communities through research, policy planning, community development, direct practice, crisis intervention, ensuring social welfare and security for those affected by social disadvantages such as poverty, psychosocial care to mentally and physically disabled, and raising voices against social injustice for social reforms, including social actions against violations of civil liberties and human rights. It is a progressive profession where one can be actively engaged in helping others to help themselves. It is a profession that deals with various problems and issues systematically

There is not one reason in which child abuse is caused, it’s usually occurs in families where there is a combination of risk factors. Abuse occur most often in families who are under pressure and lack support. Most abuse, other than sexual abuse, occurs when the family is in poverty, has lack of education, has marital problems, changes addresses

In order to understand methods of reducing the long lasting effects of physical child abuse, one must first comprehend how these effects alter the course of an individual 's life. Surviving as a victim of abuse is more than leaving the abuser’s house. It will pertain scientific, social, economic, and cultural effects that will morph every aspect of an individual 's life. Each of these effects bears consequences that are often overlooked since they are not as halting as a black eye or broken rib, but the negative impacts of physical abuse have lasting effects that affect a victim’s future eternally. Abuse is a scar carried with a victim forever, but it does not have to suppress a bright future.

(Effects of Child Physical Abuse, 2012) As children, our world revolves around our parents or primary care-givers. Parents or care-givers are the primary source of safety, security, love, understanding, nurturance and support. Child abuse messes up a child’s outlook on the rest of the world. This negative relationship affects an individual’s capacity to establish and sustain significant attachments throughout life.

The first is whether abuse has deleterious effects. “In earlier studies, in which samples were nonrepresentative and family ecological factors (such as poverty, marital violence, and family instability) and child biological variables (such as early health problems and temperament) were ignored, findings have been ambiguous. Results from a prospective study of a representative sample of 309 children indicated that physical abuse is indeed a risk factor for later aggressive behavior even when the other ecological and biological factors are known. The second question concerns the processes by which antisocial development occurs in abused children. Abused children tended to acquire deviant patterns of processing social information, and these may mediate the development of aggressive behavior” (Dodge 1990).

It is said that children who are mistreated by their parents and learned aggressive behaviors through social interaction went on to express these behaviors later in life and in their intimate relationships (Ehrensaft, Cohen, Brown, Smailes, Chen & Johnson, 2003). There is no doubt that witnessing and experiencing violence firsthand can increase one’s tolerance for violence and puts one at a greater risk for exhibiting the same behaviors as an adult. The intergenerational transmission of violence hypothesis also shows that childhood experiences from abuse or witnessing domestic

This pattern is clearly shown through the novels Slaughterhouse-Five and Fifth Business. In Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist of the novel, is exposed to early childhood abuse from

Basil, Williams, Clover, Daniels, Robertson, Edwards, and Smith (2009) found that children who are abused are more likely to abuse their own children. 7.

When looking into child abuse and cultural influences it should be known that these influences should be considered a stereotype and that is not always the case for every culture alike. Some cultures that can influence child abuse are alcoholics, blacks, the poor, and the individual being abused as a child. For the first culture explained it is common for alcoholics to have a higher chance of contributing to child abuse when drunk or sober. This is due to their anger which is usually dependent on the alcoholic substances. With the next culture, blacks, there is a possible relationship between child abuse and discrimination.

When looking into child abuse and cultural influences it should be known that these influences should be considered a stereotype and that is not always the case for every culture alike. Some cultures that can influence child abuse are alcoholics, blacks, the poor, and the individual being abused as a child. For the first culture explained it is common for alcoholics to have a higher chance of contributing to child abuse when drunk or sober. This is due to their anger which is usually dependent on the alcoholic substances. With the next culture, blacks, there is a possible relationship between child abuse and discrimination.