Overview Of Child Maltreatment

Over the course of history, the world has endured millions of cases of child abuse. These young victims have to face all sorts of destructive abuse on a daily basis. “Maltreatment is commonly divided into four categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect” (Wissow, Lawrence S. n.p.) The listed forms of abuse are the few that lead into many harmful instances that so radically affect millions of children today. Investigating more specific cases helps reveal the roots of child abuse. “The development and application of knowledge about child maltreatment have been impeded by critical shortages of qualified researchers and mental health practitioners specializing work on the topic.” (American Psychological Association n.p.)
Abuse may be used as a substitute for a healthy, compatible relationship and inflicted by pressure, regardless of social class or financial circumstances. “Adolescents are more likely to confide and trust their parents’ counsel if an established emotional bond exists. In absence of this bond, adolescents are most likely to disregard advice and rules established by parents.” (Aceves, Cookston 3). This quote highlights the significance of a relationship being valued over demanding expectations. Violence may occur if failure to achieve standards takes places. “Cases of fatal physical abuse among middle class families have challenged the stereotype that violence in the home occurs only among the poor and disadvantaged.” (Wissow n.p.). Parents of all social ranks have been reported to abuse children due to lack of success in reaching parents’ expectations. Despite the current situations the family encounters, parents are still known to display violence. An inadequacy of a relationship regardless of the class of a family are factors that cause child abuse when there is failure to meet an oppressive parent’s
“Because victimization may offer individuals information about how to respond to threats, victimization illustrates a potential threat for an expanding population of aggressive individuals.” (Aceves, Mario J. et. al 2) Strict parents with unreasonable standards use violence as a punishment or to motivate the child. Parents who are addicts to drugs or alcohol have a tendency to be violent with children. Experiencing abuse from parents as child may lead to future violence to children from the abused. “Violence against children has been manifested in every conceivable manner: physically, emotionally, through neglect, by sexual exploitation, and by child labor.” (Helfer et. al. 3) Children become prone to child abuse when there is failure to meet parents’ expectations, the improper usage of alcohol and/or drugs takes place by the parents, and when there is a risk of becoming victim to parents’ past violence