EMOTIONAL ABUSE: WHO TO BLAME?

Parents and caregivers usually bring up the difficulties of having children. Some of them recognize the emotional abuse and its effects, but they tend to defend themselves by saying that others do not know what they are going through and parenting is one of the most difficult experiences. Although they might be right about its difficulties, we also should remember that bringing a baby to the world is not the baby’s responsibility but their parents. If someone needs help, they should be looking for it in the right place. Besides harming children, parents who abuse their kids also end up having more problems with them, and eventually a harder experience.

By saying that, a parent’s effort and work is not underestimated. Parenting is difficult and has never been easy. Yet, our wounds will not decrease by hurting those we love most. Parents’ stress is understandable, and they need support, but how to expect for them to have this support from a child by yelling at them? We constantly should remember that babies are born without their consent, and they should be as respected as they are protected from physical violence. Again, it is important to look for help in the right place. Therefore, parents’ relationship with their kids will improve.

Today parents are striving to be more conscious of their children and attitudes. The social services, health workers, and schools are more trained and supportive than earlier. However, there is still one thing that most people are not very well informed about: the physical effect of emotional abuse and its impacts in the future. Recent research shows that emotional abuse and neglect cause some neurological issues that lead to various problems, such as cognitive disorders and socio-emotional disruptions. Indeed, emotional abuse’s impact is not a new theme in the psychology field.

For Dodge, Pettir and Battes, the lack of affection when interacting with the child can trigger insecurity, hostility, aggression, and vulnerability in their social relationships. The consequences of family neglect can be diverse and lasting. Family neglect can facilitate children’s early contact with the most diverse risk environments, leaving them vulnerable to various forms of violence, affecting their mental and physical health. But also, when exposing children to risk, there can be relatively small physical consequences, such as rocks and small cuts, and even serious consequences, such as hemorrhages, bone fractures, and, in some cases, even death. In the long term, the consequences can be severe, such as neurological impairment, damage to physical health, and several complications that favor fragile health.

References

Bates, J. E., Pettit, G. S., Dodge, K. A., & Ridge, B. (1998). Interaction of temperamental resistance to control and restrictive parenting in the development of externalizing behavior. Developmental Psychology, 34(5), 982–995. Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.rowan.edu/docview/614328930?accountid=13605&pq-origsite=primo