Abuse and Child Development Essay -- Domestic Violence

Abuse and Child Development This paper will investigate the abuse of children and some of the ways which young children are affected developmentally. I will try and present an overview of the major types of abuse but my big focus and most of my research has been to cover sexual abuse and its effect on development in young children and how it can affect brain development. Child abuse is defined as the mistreatment of children or minors, resulting in a variety of harmful and damaging results with regard to the well being and safety of the victim. Child abuse can range in the details and circumstances in which the offence takes place; child abuse can take place in a direct physical fashion, which includes attack and physical assault however child abuse can take place verbally and psychologically also. Abuse includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, verbal, and neglect (medical and other). Physical abuse is physical force or violence that results in bodily injury, pain or impairment. It includes assault, battery and inappropriate restraint. In the U.S., state and local protective services investigated 3.6 million reports of child abuse or neglect in 2006. Of these, more than 900,000 children were identified as victims of child maltreatment. (Craig & Dunn, Ex.: 2010, p. 195) Parents are most likely to be perpetrators of child maltreatment: In 2006, 83% of victims were abused by a parent, either acting alone or with another person. Mothers are somewhat more likely than father to maltreat their children, in part because they spend more time with them. (Craig & Dunn, Ex.: 2010, p. 198) Physical abuse can have a number of long term effects. It can cause physical injury, brain damage, and may lead to emotional dev... ...le River, N.J. Developmental stages. Retrieved from http://doctorjung.org Effects of maltreatment on brain development. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov Effects of maltreatment on the brain. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov Effects on brain development [Educational report]. Retrieved from Yale psychiatric institute: http://www.lawandpsychiatry.com/html/hippocampus.htm Erickson’s third stage of development. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com How does physical abuse impact a child? (2008). Retrieved from www.healthyplace.com Lamont, A. (2010). Effects of child abuse and neglect for children and adolescents [Family study]. Retrieved from Australian institute of family studies: www.aifs.gov.au Perry, M.D., Ph.D., B. D. (2002). Helping traumatized children [Issue Brief]. Retrieved from The child trauma academy: www.childtrauma.org