Abuse of Mentally Handicapped - Research Paper Example

Abuse of Mentally Handicapped With the amount of technology and rapid growth in the current world, less stress is placed upon the worth and value of human beings. As people have increasingly busy schedules and many commitments in life, they rarely have time, effort, or sympathy for the whims and problems of people around them or even for family members. The excruciating pressures, responsibilities, and demands of life have caused people to become agitated and intolerant. With the motto, “Everyone for themselves”, the world has become less sympathetic to the needs of special individuals who are incapable of handling themselves or standing up for themselves in society. There are many forms of domestic violence which include the violence inflicted upon children from their parents or other individuals, violence inflicted upon spouses, or violence and mistreatment of senior citizens in households. While there are many groups of potential victims to domestic violence, one of the potential victims and one of the most pressurized and helpless groups in such a situation, are the mentally handicapped. Other groups of domestic violence such as women, children, and senior citizens, may be quite helpless in a violence inflicting situation. Yet, in the case of mentally handicapped individuals, people are insensitive to the fact that despite their incapability to respond as normal human beings, they do possess the feelings and emotions of a normal person. Moreover, the fact that they are unable to respond in a normal fashion or understand how and why they are being treated in a certain manner makes it an even graver situation and has strong negative implications for the mental health of the mentally handicapped individual (Cooke, 1990). Such violence occurs in many households where a mentally handicapped individual is present. Some family members do not even consider their behavior to be a form of abuse as they perceive the mentally impaired individual to be a burden upon them and feel that they are doing what is needed to control the individual or handle him/her. In other cases, the torture is severe and physical when family members or siblings tend to physically beat or harm the mentally impaired individual (Waxman, 1991). Domestic violence may take many forms whether it is consistent psychological pressure or physical abuse. In the case of a mentally handicapped individual, family members may be domestically violent in two ways. The first being that can be termed as the “ignorant approach” is that where they do not care much about the comforts or the needs of the special individual and ignore him/her. They may not speak much to the individual, seclude them, talk about them in front of them as if they were not present, not talk to them in a nice manner, or constantly abuse them with name-calling or lack of emotional support (Morano, 2000). Another more severe form of abuse is the physical abuse that can be inflicted upon an individual. When family members are less tolerant or abusive, they may physically beat the mentally handicapped individual (Petersilla, 2000). In such cases, family members usually feel that the impaired person has excessively burdened them or they may also find them to be an easy target to vent their anger out at. Sometimes, the physical abuse is by siblings who either feel embarrassed or angry about having a mentally impaired person in their family. In some cases, siblings may also feel that the mentally handicapped individual receives undue attention from their parents and may feel left out or jealous towards that (Petersilla, 2000). Other forms of abuse and domestic violence include sexual harassment which is another more outlandish form of violence, which unfortunately exists. Since mentally handicapped individuals are unable to understand their surroundings and the treatment given to them and more importantly, are unable to express their worries or discomfort; some of them may be a target of sexual harassment. Although this may be a rare case and can only be prevalent in certain “sick-minded” (Morano, 2000) people, many mentally handicapped women are the target of sexual harassment. While being mentally handicapped, they still possess the physical features of a female, and without the ability to retaliate, they make an easy target for such acts (Morano, 2000). According to prior research, it has been found that the abuse of mentally handicapped individuals has increased over the years, more than the increase in other forms of domestic violence (Morano, 2000). This is because there are not many outlets or forms of help offered to the mentally handicapped individual. While women, children, and senior citizens who are prone to such attacks can respond and possibly ask others for help, mentally handicapped individuals do not have these choices or abilities. They are unable to express their concerns and ask others for help which makes their situation even worse and grave (Buchanan, 1977). Mentally handicapped individuals suffer from name-calling, being ignored, being yelled at, left at home on family functions, physical beatings, and insensitivity on the part of their family members and other people in society. However, what has not been realized by people who indulge in such behavior is that it has strong implications for the mental and physical health of the mentally impaired individual (Cooke, 1990). Most of the time, being mentally impaired does not reduce the emotions of the individual. Being mentally handicapped reduces the cognitive abilities of the individual and their power and ability to respond as other human beings do. While their brain may not be functioning properly, their emotions are still as responsive as a normal human being’s are. Even if the handicapped person cannot express his/her anger, concern, or emotions properly, they still feel them and can feel the air of dislike, anger, or inappropriate behavior around them (Buchanan, 1977). Without having the ability to understand the reasons of being treated this way and not having proper communication abilities, the handicapped person suffers more internally and mentally. This can cause their problem to worsen or an adverse effect on their physical well-being (Buchanan, 1977). Our brains are connected to our bodies and likewise, if we are mentally suffering anguish, our body and health will reflect the turmoil present in our brain. Hence, it is very important to offer mentally handicapped individuals love, comfort, and a friendly environment. While their cognitive abilities may not be typical to a normal human being’s, they have other senses, which are even much stronger than a normal human being’s. Such senses include the sense to feel despite not having the ability to react (Buchanan, 1977). It is worse for the mentally handicapped to be in an abusive situation, as they are helpless individuals who cannot even turn to others for help. Hence, it is exceptionally cruel to subject them to any mental or physical torture. Moreover, the individual is helpless to changing his/her problem. They are unaware of what they have done wrong to receive such treatment and are unable to fix the problem unlike a child, spouse, or other members of a family. Normal people understand their situation and have the means and ability to make it better. They also have the ability to take themselves out of the situation and run away from an abusive relationship. However, mentally handicapped individuals do not have this ability or the means to find other support as they are completely dependent upon their caretakers for support (Buchanan, 1977). There are no proper places for the care of mentally handicapped individuals who are suffering from such situations and unfortunately, these people do not receive enough attention from other people in society in the form on help and support or just concern. Most countries and areas have proper arrangements for the care of elderly people, women, and children in abusive situations. However, there is a lack of support services provided to give attention to the problems suffered by the mentally handicapped individual in an abusive situation (Cooke, 1990). There are a number of steps that can be taken to avoid such abuse and domestic violence in a household. There should a proper check and balance system which ensures that mentally handicapped individuals receive proper treatment and when a case is suspected of being mistreated or abused, they should be taken away from an abusive situation and placed in proper care. Systems such as old homes for the elderly and shelter homes for women in violent situations should be set up for the care of mentally handicapped individuals as well. However, the responsibility of detecting such abuse should be given to proper authorities and society. Psychologists or doctors who are treating the mentally handicapped individual should keep their eyes open for such abusive signs (Petersilla, 2000). However, it must be remembered that domestic violence is not only physical but can be mental or emotional as well. Sometimes, mental and emotional violence has a much stronger and more adverse effect than any other type of violence or abuse inflicted upon an individual. In under developed countries, such facilities and help may not be easily provided. Hence, it is the responsibility of society and the family members themselves to ensure that their fellow human being be treated in a respectable and appropriate manner. Such people need and deserve more love than others and should at least be given equal treatment to other human beings if not extra. These people should not be ignored or shunned as they are people with special needs and their condition is due to no fault of their own. References Buchanan, A. (1977). “Abuse and neglect as a cause of mental retardation: a study of 140 children admitted to subnormality hospitals in Wiltshire.” British Journal of Psychiatry. Volume 44, pp. 458-467. Cooke, L. B. (1990). “Abuse of Mentally Handicapped Adults.” Psychiatric Bulletin. Volume 4, pp. 608-609. Morano, J. (2000). “Sexual Abuse of the Mentally Retarded: Medical and Legal Analysis for the Primary Care Physician.” University of Tennessee Medical Journal. Volume 4. Petersilla, J. (2000). “Invisible Victims: Violence against People with Developmental Disabilities.” Human Rights 9. Volume 27. Waxman, B. F. (1991). “Hatred: The unacknowledged Dimension in Violence against Disabled People.” Sexuality and Disability. Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 185-199. Read More