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.
In 1870, child abuse was first introduced by the events that happened to an eight year old, named Mary Ellen Wilson, who was experiencing several beatings in the home of her biological father and step-mother, in Great Britain. During the 1870’s Mary experienced extreme beating, and was removed from the home (Walkins, 1990). Mary’s story started in 1874, while living with her biological father’s new wife Mary McCormack Connolly. Mrs. Connolly would beat the child, and would not provide for Mary’s basic welfare. It was not until Etta Wheeler, a Methodist mission who visited the home that Mary’s abuse was first confirmed the abuse of a child.
The Traumagenics model by Finkelhor and Browne helps to understand and see the consequences that occur with sexual abuse and trauma. This model helps to see how the trauma these victims face carry out in their lifespan. Precious faces many characteristics of the model for example
Introduction. Children are biologically designed to form a secure attachment. Smyke and Potter (2011) describe a secure attachment as when a child feels accepted and valued by their caregiver, which is a process of the caregiver providing life-long comfort, support and protection for the child. When a child experiences maltreatment and social isolation from a caregiver the child develops a sense of danger which causes an "overwhelming sense of helpless, horror and terror" (Smyke and Potter, 2011). Examples of maltreatment may include a child living in institutional care or frequent placements while in the care of child and family services or when a child is left with random caregivers or the child is brought to a drug house by the parent
The study by Child Abuse and Neglect and the Brain—A Review Authors Danya Glaser First published: January 2000Full publication history DOI: 10.1111/1469-7610.00551, that the shows that injury can cause some terrible affects to the brain which in turn affects the attachment with the child and parent. Whole this damage of the brain can affect the physical ability to have secure attachment, issues relating to the cognitive ad emotions; behaviour of the child also comes into play. A child who has is unaware of the response from the carer giver will have unsecure attempt (reference text
Dr. Bruce Perry began his book The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook – What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing with a statement about children and their resilience. Much like what we discussed in class, Dr. Perry touched on how children were thought to be naturally resilient and that they seemed to bounce back quickly. However, he continued with the statement that even the slightest bit of stress can impact an infant's development. Likewise, we discussed numerous things that can impact the welfare of children, such as attachment, education, and poverty.
By the daughter being exploited, the daughter’s life became traumatic and chaotic. Inferring that the daughter could have difficulties with self-esteem, regulating emotions,
All the time I had spent hanging on and shrinking into that child amazed me. I recalled my thoughts about my own life and I realized that as a child, I could never have stood up to Mom and fought back” (Pelzer 260). This quote shows that he knew that he should’ve and could’ve stood up to his mom, but he was too scared and he faced the horrors of his mom’s abuse in return. This book really let me know the horrors of the world and how many kids are being abused and are too scared to speak out against it. If some people really need help, they shouldn’t be scared or embarrassed to call for
The short story PAIN is an intriguing, yet sorrowful narrative that draws the reader towards the theme of abuse. The story is told from the perspective of a teenager, who deals with abuse from their intoxicated father. For the majority of people who are abused, they are impacted physically, mentally, and emotionally and the short story PAIN certainly describes the life of someone who is abused, which is shown through the protagonists eyes. Some people who are abused, often are physically harmed as a way of proving they have power over the victim. In the story the father used his nearly finished liquor bottle, and his belt as a way of having power over his child.
I understand now how the developmental theories can introduce a clear understanding about the case conceptualization not only for the children, but also for the adults and the children 's future as well. As Adler-Tapia, R. (2012) stated that “The studies included here are about the overwhelming evidence that the earliest relationship not only has significant impact on the child health and development, but even the quality of the individuals future relationship” (p.39). As a future therapist, I need to look carefully to the child 's parent attachment dynamic to understand the child suffers and gain more information about the child which it could lead me to choose the right intervention. As Adler-Tapia, R. (2012) stated that “In psychotherapy, it is important for the therapist to assess the quality of the child 's attachment with parent. The parent 's attachment and trauma history will provide a great deal of information about the relationship between parent and child”
Anger and aggression are highly noxious agents in a family environment. Conditions ranging from living with irritable and quarreling parents to being exposed to violence and abuse at home show associations with mental and physical health problems in childhood, with lasting effects in the adult years.” In other words, not giving you child attention and exposing them to dangerous environments can cause them to act out, turn to substance abuse, and reflect the abuse they have
My family has raised me in a safe environment enabling me to feel I have a place in the world. Although I have never experienced abuse first hand, I have witnessed the effect that lack of safety has on a child. My friend was once abused to the point where she had to wear long sleeves in summer to hide her wounds. She blamed herself and did not feel wanted; she is comparable to Bone who constantly blames herself and states variations of “‘I made him mad’”(Allison 247). Bone lives in a war zone, a place of broken hearts and bones, a place of constant fear.
If victims are abused by family day-by-day, they will be painful continuously, especially in their mental aspect. An organization concerned about the domestic violence, The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable (2008) found “Children who are exposed to battering become fearful and anxious. They are always on guard, watching and waiting for the next event to occur” ; it stated that children
Erikson (1902-1994) and J. Bowlby (1909-1991), developed the initial idea maintained by Freud, that our earliest relationships affect all those that come later in life. Erikson emphasised the impact of history and culture on the development of the adolescent, later developing ego psychology. John Bowlby’s attachment theory states that our attachments and relationships help us to maintain our emotional wellbeing; the attachments that we make to people in the early stages of our development has an impact on how we view ourselves and how we develop relationships throughout our lives. Wave 3 nurture groups and SEAL groups, as recommended by the government Targeted Mental Health in Schools project (TaMHS, 2008), are firmly based on the premise that early relationships are crucial to all that follows. Personal experiences with adopted children, those of close colleagues, family members and students, can, in my opinion, bear out Bowlby’s underlying premise of attachment theory.
I appreciate you examining Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), as it is certainly a troubling condition suffered by so many children victimized by abuse and neglect. Attachment Disorder usually begins in infancy. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage of “Trust vs. Mistrust stage” is the stage that provides the child with a sense of security from the caregiver and the development of attachment. In this stage, the nature of our attachments affects how we relate to others throughout our lives.