The Emotionally Abused Population - Assignment Example

The Emotionally Abused Population: A Critical Review and Analysis 2007 The Emotionally Abused Population: A Critical Review and Analysis The matter of the emotionally abused population is one of incredible importance and significance, especially since the statistics show that the percentage of the population that is considered to be emotionally abused is continuously increasing, and at a seriously rapid rate at that, and this is not only in terms of North America, but in fact universally. In order to be able to understand the issue of the emotionally abused population, there are several different matters which are going to need to be thoroughly addressed and discussed, and this includes the actual description of the emotionally abused population, the significance of the problem and related health and social problems, the evaluation of any and all current strategies in regards to the breaking of the cycle of vulnerability including ethical implications of current strategies, as well as specific proposed community and public health nursing interventions in the different roles. By seriously addressing and analyzing each of these issues, not only will we be able to see the current state of the emotionally abused population, but as well will be able to better recognize and understand about the solutions that can be sought and hoped for in the future. The aim of this paper is to do this, as well as discuss any and all other key and related issues. This is what will be dissertated in the following. The ‘emotionally abused population’ is a term which basically refers to just what it sounds like – the percentage of people in the world who would be medically classified as being emotionally abused. Emotional abuse can be caused by many different things and people, and in many different ways, and the worst part of all is that most of the time, people do not even realize that they have been or are being emotionally abused until it is too late. Emotional abuse “refers to a long-term situation in which one person uses his or her power or influence to adversely affect the mental well-being of another. Emotional abuse can appear in a variety of forms, including rejection, degradation, isolation, corruption, exploitation, and invoking terror” (Evans, 1996). There are many different indicators which may be a sign that a person is suffering from emotional abuse, and this includes that of the following: depression, withdrawal, low self-esteem, severe anxiety, fearfulness, failure to be able to establish a mutually acceptable manner in which to manage differences, failure to thrive in infancy, aggression, emotional instability, sleep disturbances, extreme dependence, and inability to trust, for example – there are many more. However, some persons who suffer from emotional abuse actually tend to show no signs at all, and this can be frustrating because it can thus often be basically impossible to notice whether or not someone is suffering from emotional abuse. Only a few studies actually have been able to provide any worthwhile insight into the matter of the prevalence of emotional abuse in North America, let alone the rest of the world, and there are many different reasons for this. The subject of emotional abuse is actually quite hard to research, for several different reasons in particular, including: in comparison to other forms of abuse, its effects have only recently been recognized; there are no consistent definitions and it is quite hard to define; it is difficult to detect, assess, and substantiate; and the majority of emotional abuse cases go unreported, thus resulting in a lacking of substantial evidence and data. However, there is a quite significant amount of statistical data which has been attained over the past few years in regards to emotional abuse, and in one study in particular, it was shown that “77 percent of women reported emotional abuse in combination with physical abuse…81 percent of male respondents reported that they had psychologically abused a female partner…and…that psychological abuse is the most prevalent form of abuse” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). As well, there was another study conducted which found that of 1000 women 15 years of age or over: “36 percent had experienced emotional abuse while growing up; 43 percent had experienced some form of abuse as children or teenagers; and 39 percent reported experiencing verbal/emotional abuse in a relationship within the last five years” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). According to studies and statistics overall in regards to the matter of emotional abuse, among ever-married or common-law women aged 18 – 65 years, emotional abuse is in fact more widespread, and in more detail, the study showed that: “25 percent of all women surveyed reported that their spouse was emotionally abusive; 18 percent of women reported experiencing emotional abuse but not physical abuse in a relationship; 77 percent of women reported emotional abuse in combination with physical abuse” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). Even a large majority of senior men and women are shown to have experienced or be currently experiencing emotional abuse, which is obviously not only an incredibly frightening and saddening fact but as well one of quite huge surprise; the 1990 National Survey on Abuse of the Elderly in North America was a study which specifically studied the matter of the prevalence which was present in regards to emotional abuse among seniors across North America, and the results of the study, while still incredibly significant as they are, are in fact considered as being an underestimation of the actual number. This study showed that: “4 percent of seniors residing in private homes reported experiencing abuse and/or neglect; questions about insults, swearing and threats were asked as a measure of chronic verbal aggression. The study showed that 1.4 percent of seniors experienced these forms of emotional abuse in the year prior to the study; chronic verbal aggression ranked as the second most prevalent form of mistreatment following material abuse” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). Children as well make up a large majority of the percentage of persons which are considered to be included in the emotionally abused population; emotional abuse in children is in fact the most serious and often the most dangerous of all, as emotional abuse of children can result in serious and severe emotional and behavioral problems, while they are a child but even more so once they are an adult, and this can include them attaining such attributes as depression, anxiety, lack of attachment, low cognitive ability, and poor social skills, for example. There was one study in particular which was conducted, and this study looked specifically at emotionally abused children in infancy and then again during their preschool years, in order to gain a proper perception on how detrimental emotional abuse was on them overall. This study “found them to be angry, uncooperative and unattached to their primary caregiver. The children also lacked creativity, persistence, and enthusiasm” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). Not only that, but as well this study found that “Children who experience rejection are more likely than accepted children to exhibit hostility, aggressive or passive-aggressive behavior, to be extremely dependant, to have negative opinions of themselves and their abilities, to be emotionally unstable or unresponsive, and to have a negative perception of the world around them” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). Children and women are by far considered to make up the largest majority of persons who are emotionally abused, and although emotional abuse has been shown to more adversely and negatively affect children, it also creates many different problems for women as well. Emotional abuse can make a woman feel helpless and terrified, and make her feel as though she has nowhere to go and that there is no one to help her; the basic purpose of the perpetrator committing emotional abuse is to make themselves feel in control and to make the victim feel powerless and helpless, and this is what tears the victim’s confidence and self-esteem apart. “Threatening to kill or physically harm a female partner, her children, other family members or pets establishes dominance and coercive power on the part of the abuser. The female partner feels extreme terror, vulnerability and powerlessness within the relationship” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). There are various different health and social problems which are caused in relation to emotional abuse, and not only that, but health and social problems that were already existent in an emotionally abused victim tend to get much worse after the person has been exposed to emotional abuse. One of the most pronounced social problems that is a result of emotional abuse is that of low self-esteem, as persons who have suffered from emotional abuse are traumatized mentally, and they simply do not have the same standard of opinion of themselves as perhaps they once had. As children, people are born innocent, and they have no hatred towards themselves or others, and no insecurities. As children grow up and become aware of the world around them, this is the most major point in their life in which they will begin to attain negative attributes, and this is why it is up to parents to make sure that they nurture and love their children as much as they possibly can, and try their best to keep their children from experiencing something so traumatizing as emotional abuse. The confidence in a person – especially a child – who has suffered from emotional abuse drops drastically, often times even to the point where the person will refuse to even leave their own home. Another incredibly detrimental social problem which is often caused as a result of emotional abuse is dependency; a large majority of the people who have suffered from emotional abuse – and largely in part due to the fact that they have incredibly low self-esteem – become very dependent upon those around them, and although this may not at first sound to be that bad of a problem, it truly is, because the dependency is so intense in this case most of the time, that the persons actually do not feel as though they can go anywhere unless they have someone there with them so that they can feel safe. Emotional abuse, for the most part, will absolutely affect the victim adversely in one way or another. It can result in serious physical and psychological damage, including severe depression, anxiety, persistent headaches, back and limb problems, and stomach problems. It is also know that “Women who are psychologically abused but not physically abused are five times more likely to misuse alcohol than women who have not experienced abuse…and…jealousy, possessiveness and interrogation about whereabouts and activities are controlling behaviors which can severely restrict a female partner’s independence and freedom. Social and financial isolation may leave her dependant upon the abuser for social contact, money and the necessities of life” (The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2007). The detection of emotional abuse is actually often times the most difficult part, as although there are many signs that can be shown, many of them are incredibly discreet, and not only that but in a large majority of cases, there are no signs or giveaways of any sort, thus making it basically impossible to be able to detect a problem such as emotional abuse, even if it is with someone that you are very close to or someone that you have known for a long time. “However, personal awareness and understanding of the issue is key to recognizing it. The following indicators may assist in detecting emotional abuse: depression, withdrawal, severe anxiety, fearfulness, sleep disturbances, avoidance of eye contact, and substance abuse, for example. The signs and symptoms may differ from children to adults, however, with older children, many of the signs tend to be the same – particularly those such as sleep disturbances, avoidance of eye contact, and substance abuse. There are many different strategies which are presently being worked and researched on, of which are hopefully going to be able to aid in the effects of emotional abuse, particularly to breaking the cycle of vulnerability, as this is one of the most difficult and detrimental results that is caused by emotional abuse. However, in order for any strategies to be even remotely successful, there is going to have to be a enormous amount of further research done on the topic of emotional abuse, and more studies and surveys so that the effects – both short-term and long-term – can be reasonably and properly understood. After all, the issue of emotional abuse is one which has not been around for that long, not even a decade in fact, and so long-term research especially has not yet been able to be completed. Once there is more basic research on this issue, more efficient and effective solutions which are going to be able to be reached. From this review we have learned many different things, several of particular importance, such as the fact of what emotional abuse actually is and how seriously detrimental it can be. Although many people do not even really realize it, it is very possible to be able to literally destroy someone with words, looks, and innuendos: “the term for this is emotional abuse or moral harassment, and the evidence is mounting that this is a major epidemic in our culture” (Hirigoyen et al, 2000). Emotional abuse is an incredibly significant problem not only in North America and other more industrialized nations, but universally. Although the cases of emotional abuse are even less detected and known about in the less industrialized nations of the world, the abuse is still very present there, and thus must still be factored in to the general issue overall. Emotional abuse is often times even considered to be much worse than physical abuse, as it tends to have much longer lasting and more significant traumatizing effects, particularly in regards to the psychological effects that are involved, and this is why it is so crucial that some solutions be brought to attention, not only those that are available now but more effective and efficient ones in the future. After all, this is the only way that any justice will be able to be brought to the issue of emotional abuse, and because this is such a serious and detrimental subject, there thus needs to be action taken against it as quickly as possible. References Evans, P (1996). The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize it and how to Respond. New York: Media Corporation. Follingstad, D. R (1990). ‘The Role of Emotional Abuse in Physically Abusive Relationships’. Journal of Family Violence, 5 (2). Hirigoyen, M-F et al (2000). Stalking the Soul: Emotional Abuse and the Erosion of Identity. New York: Helen-Marx Books. Jantz, G. L (1995). Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse. Northbrook, IL: Revell. The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (2007). Emotional Abuse, online article retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:uQX-jWSeiLUJ:www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/pdfs/emotion.pdf+emotional+abuse+statistics&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3 Powers, M. G (2000). The Secret of Overcoming Verbal Abuse: Getting off the Emotional Rollercoaster and Regaining Control of Your Life. Chatsworth, CA: Wilshire Book Company. Read More