Emotional Child Abuse

Term Paper # 104790

Child, Youth Issues > Child Abuse
Education > Development Studies
Medical and Health

This paper focuses on the problem of emotional child abuse, while looking at the issue of child abuse in general.

2,640 words () | 12 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer examines child abuse as a whole, as well as emotional child abuse specifically. Different kinds of emotional abuse are examined, as well as the characteristics of the families that are prone to such abuse. In addition, this paper describes the impact that child abuse has on children and on society at large. Finally, potential treatment and prevention is suggested. The writer concludes that emotional abuse is a serious problem that requires society to further study this form of abuse and find more effective methods for its prevention and treatment.

Outline:
Definition of Child Abuse
Different Kinds of Emotional Child Abuse
Identifying Emotional Child Abuse
The Impact of Child Abuse
Prevention
Treatment
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"One thing that makes child abuse difficult to treat or to prevent is that it is usually a recurring event. Given its prevalence across societal boundaries, it is also apparent that child abuse has few factors that assist in predicting the homes in which it will occur. That is, child abuse is equally prevalent in all economic, ethnic, and racial groups, which makes identification of abusive households difficult. However, domestic violence and child abuse are often paired; it is in such households that emotional abuse is the side effect of spousal physical or emotional abuse. For this reason, it is safe to conclude that parents are often the emotional abusers, which may differentiate emotional abuse somewhat from physical or sexual abuse. However, if a child tells a parent of abuse that has occurred, or if a parent becomes aware of abuse occurring in other environments, then he or she has a legal obligation to report the incident(s) to the proper authorities."

Sample of Sources Used:

Benedictis, T., Jaffe, J., & Segal, J. (2007). Child abuse: Types, signs, symptoms, causes and help. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved 3 July 2007 from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm
Bensley, L., Ruggles, D., Wynkoop Simmons, K., Putvin, T., Harris, C., Allen, M.. and Williams, K. (2003). Community Norms about Child Abuse and Neglect. Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Health.
Botash, A. S. (2007). Treatment and follow-up: Emotional abuse. Child Abuse Evaluation & Treatment for Medical Providers. Retrieved 3 July 2007 from http://www.childabusemd.com/treatment/treatment-emotional-abuse.shtml
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. (2003). United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 5 July 2007 from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws_policies/cblaws/capta03/capta_manual.pdf
Fact sheet: Emotional child abuse. Prevent Child Abuse America. Retrieved 3 July 2007 from http://member.preventchildabuse.org/site/DocServer/emotional_child_abuse.pdf?docID=122