Chapter 2: Concepts of Abuse & Neglect

Question 1

Name four (4) types of Abuse

Answer 1

• Physical Abuse: infliction of physical injury
• Sexual Abuse: inappropriate exposure or sexual contact, activity, or behavior without consent
• Psychological Abuse: emotional/verbal/mental injury
• Neglect: failing to meet physical, emotional, or other needs

Question 2

Signs Associated with Sexual Abuse

Answer 2

Physical Signs: Injuries associated with rectal or genital area

Behavioral Signs: Extreme behavioral changes, Regression, Fear & Anxiety, Withdrawal, Sleep Disturbances, Nightmares, Interest or knowledge of sexual information inappropriate for age.

Question 3

What factors influence the effect of sexual abuse?

Answer 3

• Age of the victim (at time of abuse and time of assessment)
• Extent and duration of sexual abuse
• Relationship of offender to victim
• Reaction of others to the abuse
• Other life experiences

Question 4

Effects of Sexual Abuse

Answer 4

• Aversive feelings about sex; overvaluing sex; sexual identity problems; and/or hypersexual behaviors
• Feelings of shame and guilt or feeling responsible for the abuse, which are reflected in self-destructive behaviors (such as substance abuse, self-mutilation, suicidal ideation and gestures, and acts that aim to provoke punishment)
• Lack of trust, unwillingness to invest in others; involvement in exploitive relationships; angry and acting-out behaviors
• Perceived vulnerability and victimization; phobias; sleep and eating problems

Question 5

Psychological Abuse/ Neglect

Answer 5

Sustained, repetitive, and inappropriate behavior aimed at threatening, isolating, discrediting, belittling, teasing, humiliating, bullying, confusing, ignoring or withholding of praise or affection, and placing excessive or unreasonable demands.

Question 6

Effects of Psychological Abuse

Answer 6

• Impacted intelligence, memory, recognition, perception, attention, imagination, and moral development.
• Fearful
• Withdrawn
• Resentful
• Distressed
• Despairing.
• Negative Self-Image

Question 7

Signs of Psychological Abuse

Answer 7

• Avoid eye contact and experience deep loneliness, anxiety, and/or despair
• Have a flat and superficial way of relating, with little empathy toward others
• Have a lowered capacity to engage appropriately with others
• Engage in bullying, disruptive, or aggressive behaviors toward others
• Engage in self-harming and/or self-destructive behaviors (i.e., cutting, physical aggression, reckless behavior showing a disregard for self and safety, drug taking)

Question 8

Signs of Physical Abuse

Answer 8

• Unexplained bruises or welts on the face, lips, mouth, torso, back, buttocks, or thighs, sometimes reflecting the shape of the article used to inflict them (electric cord, belt buckle, etc.)
• Unexplained burns from a cigar or cigarette, especially on soles, palms, back, or buttocks—sometimes patterned like an electric burner, iron, or similar
• Unexplained fractures to the skull, nose, or facial structure
• Unexplained lacerations or abrasions to the mouth, lips, gums, eyes, and/or external genitalia

-Being wary of individuals (parent or caretaker if a child is being abused)

• Behavioral extremes (aggressiveness or withdrawal), as well as fear related to reporting injury.

Question 9

Exploitation

Answer 9

Treating a person badly in order to benefit from the person’s resources or work.

Exploitation is more common when there is a power differential between parties due to social status, abilities, income, education, job position, and so on.

“Quid Pro Quo”

Question 10

Characteristics of Perpetrators of Abuse, Neglect, & Exploitation

Answer 10

1. History of Violent Behaviors
2. History of owning weapons and using them against others
3. Criminal history; repetitive antisocial behavior
4. Drug and alcohol use (substance use is associated with the most violent crimes)
5. Psychiatric disorder with coexisting substance abuse
6. Certain psychiatric symptoms such as psychosis, intense suspiciousness, anger, and/or unhappiness
7. Personality disorders (borderline and antisocial personality disorders)
8. History of impulsivity; low frustration tolerance; recklessness; inability to tolerate criticism; entitlement
9. Angry affect without empathy for others—high anger scores associated with increased chance of violence.
10. Environmental stressors: lower socioeconomic status or poverty; job