Misconception About Child Abuse

Child abuse is a common issue throughout the world, while some people believe it to be only physical abuse; emotional abuse and neglect are also serious issues ("Child Abuse and Neglect").The definition of child abuse is, “Mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian, including neglect, beating, and sexual molestation (“Child Abuse").” There are many misinterpretations about child abuse, such as, “if a child is being abused they will tell someone,” most children who are abused actually do not report their families because they feel as though they have to protect them, and they don’t want to be taken away from their families (“Myths and Realities”). Another common misconception is that fathers are the only ones who abuse their children, when
However, one out of three girls and one out of five boys will be sexually abused by the time they are eighteen (“11 Facts About Child Abuse”). “Do not take candy from a stranger in a white van,” is what everyone learns as a child, because adults are worried a stranger will kidnap or abuse their child, however 90% of children that are abused in a sexual or physical way know their perpetrator, and 68% are abused by family members (“11 Facts About Child
The long lasting repercussions are extensive. Maltreatment of children can physically affect the brain, weakening the connection between the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, making it very likely children who were maltreated will develop anxiety and depression during their adolescence (Hamilton). The brain has three different parts that process fear, the prefrontal cortex which processes our thoughts and actions, the amygdala makes the “fight or flight decision”, and the hippocampus decides if a situation is truly scary or dangerous for a person to be in (such as a scary movie or a roller coaster) (Hamilton). When children are maltreated, it causes the connection between the three parts of the brain that process fear to be weakened, making it difficult for people who were neglected, abused etc. to feel comfortable and safe in normal environments (Hamilton). Child abuse can also cause other repercussions, such as an increased chance for eating disorders, drug use, unprotected sex (resulting in a 25% chance of teen pregnancy), and self harm (“Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect.”). 80% of 21 year olds who were abused as children have at least one type of psychological disorder (“11 Facts About Child Abuse.”). 14% of male prisoners and 36% of female prisoners were abused as children (“11 Facts About Child