Perspectives on Abuse Violence - Case Study Example

Research suggests that physical abuse is considered to be abuse that involves intentional and purposeful acts of aggression and violent behavior that can damage and harm the child. Research also suggests that physical abuse takes place when adults are in a state of anger and are unable to control it. Therefore, they slap, punch, and strike the child (Briere & Bulkley, 2000). Sadly, children like Peter often become the target of physical violence. From research, it is evident that unemployment, poverty, absence of a father from the family, and drug addiction are considered to be one of the main factors, which lead to physical child abuse.

Parental Causes of Child Abuse
Child abuse is often associated with parents. The following are the parental causes that lead to child abuse:
1. Parents had themselves been victims of physical assault as children. There is a complete cycle of violence. Parents, who had been the victims, frequently assaulted and beat their children.
2. Research suggests that frequently unwanted pregnancy also leads to child abuse. A sick or disabled child also becomes the target of physical assault at the hands of the parent.
3. Parents often do not support their children, when they face problems in their academics or social life. Frequently, children are slapped and beaten as part of their disciplined training

4. Indistinct and unclear limitations, where the boundary and limitations between the child and the parent are not defined. In such cases, both roles are undefined, and hence, physical violence takes place (Bartholet, 2000).
5. Physical assault also takes place, when the parent suffers from psychological disorder. To express his or her aggression, the parent resort to violence and beats his or her child in an attempt to calm down.
6. Research suggests that in some cultures, children are awarded corporal punishments to discipline them

Ecological Causes of Child Abuse

The ecological causes of physical child abuse are discussed below:
1. Poverty is considered to be the number one ecological factor, which leads to physical violence. Research suggests that children living in poor health conditions and having no access to necessities of life are more vulnerable to physical abuse as compared to their counterparts, who come from a strong financial background (Byrgen, 2005). Children are also subjected to violence when their parents have problems in their marriages. Research suggests that more than sixty of the children, who experienced physical violence, came from troubled families.

2. Research suggests that when a parent resorts to drugs or becomes alcoholic, he or she is most likely to abuse his or her child. In the study conducted eighty different hospitals, more than three hundred children per studied. It was found out that more than fifty percent of the children had been the victim of physical violence, which was done by an alcoholic or drug addict parent or guardian(Byrgen, 2005)
3. High unemployment rate also leads to physical abuse.

Child Problems
The following are the causes of physical abuse because of problems found in children:
1. Children, who are disabled or handicapped also, become the victims of physical violence.
2. Frequently, parents have impractical and idealistic expectations of their children. If these expectations are not fulfilled, the child is most likely to experience physical assault.
3. There is no parental bond between the child and the parent.
4. Children often left alone also become the target of physical violence.

Consequences of Child Abuse
Physical violence has detrimental effects on the physical, mental, and psychological well-being of the child. This violence permanently scars them and hence they do not trust anyone. They experience problems in school and do not excel academically. They also have problems in their social life. They suffer from depression, anxiety, are powerless, and have poor self-image (Bartholet, 2000). They feel worthless and feel betrayed, baffled, or scared. They also suffer from eating disorders. They are vulnerable and are most likely to have psychiatric problems as adults. Research suggests that such children are most likely to become violent adults and may experience health problems.

Conclusion

Children like Peter, often become the target of physical child abuse. Physical assault against the child is committed by an adult or a guardian because of several reasons. Poverty, unemployment, etc are some of the factors which lead to this violence. Such children are most likely to experience psychological and physical problems when they grow up. Read More