Child Psychological Abuse Flashcards
…child psychological maltreatment is slow and protracted, will create no stir, pose no threat of scandal nor media scrutiny, and has little political significance for the managers of child care bureaucracies.
*
Definition of “psychological maltreatment” (Roberta adapted from text)
Psychological maltreatment means a repeated repeated pattern of behaviour that conveys to children that they are
worthless
unloved
unwanted
only of value in meeting another’s needs
OR
seriously threatened with physical or psychological violence.
Definition of “psychological maltreatment” (Roberta from her book, Heavy Hands)
injury to the psychological capacity or emotional stability of the child * AEB an observable or substantial change in behaviour, emotional response, or cognition OR anxiety, depression, withdrawal, aggressive behaviour
Children who regularly hear that they are worthless, stupid, unlovable, or ugly, will …
come to believe these things
begin to act like they are these descriptions.
It is likely that nearly all parents, at some level,
psychologically mistreat their children at some time by saying or doing hurtful things they later regret
Is child psychological abuse is not considered to be…?
*
How about reporting it?
an assault or a crime
*
It is often difficult to report.
Why should emotional or psychological abuse be seen as a “red flag” to professionals?
*
What to listen for?
Emotional or psychological abuse often accompanies other forms of abusive behaviour.
Children will often talk about psychological abuse before physical.
6 categories of parental behaviour
*
TIMES Denying
Terrorizing Isolating Mental health/medical/educational neglect Exploiting/corrupting Spurning Denying emotional responsiveness
6 categories of parental behaviour
Terrorizing
threatening to hurt or kill the child or their loved ones or pets or possessions
6 categories of parental behaviour
Isolating
no contact with others
locking in a cellar or closet
6 categories of parental behaviour
Mental health/ medical/educational neglect
*
There was nothing in her notes re. this category of parental behaviour.
hong kong phooey
6 categories of parental behaviour
Exploiting/corrupting (3)
GEM
giving them alcohol or drugs
encouraging misbehaviour – vandalism
making them a surrogate parent
6 categories of parental behaviour
Spurning
verbal and nonverbal
hostile rejecting/degrading behaviours
6 categories of parental behaviour
Denying emotional responsiveness (3)
INS
ignoring
no positive responses
silent treatment
Research?
Very little
• definitional ambiguity
• least common form of reported and substantiated maltreatment
It is the least common form of reported and substantiated maltreatment but also assumed to be?
The most common type of maltreatment
Describe psychological abuse in terms of damage
appears to be as damaging as physical abuse if not more so
Experts assume that every subtype of child abuse – physical, sexual, neglect - encompasses
an element of psychological abuse
Consequences
Initial (3) Ip Id A-b
LT (1) A-b
Initial
interpersonal problems
intellectual deficits
affective-behavioural problems
Long term
Continued Affective-behavioural problems
Affective-behavioural problems – name off some
*
What does Roberta say about these problems?
aggression/anger disruptive in the classroom noncompliant lack of impulse control self-abusive anxiety low self-esteem shame and guilt conduct disorder hyperactivity and distractibility * As a child, they can be managed. As an adult, they become abusive.
The most consistent consequences are (5) Low SS Feeling IIU * These feelings are?
LOW self-esteem self-confidence * FEELING unworthy of the respect / attn of others incompetent irrelevant * These feelings are pervasive, not situational.
Implications for practice
*
The most effective interventions are those which?
use a team or multiservice approach
Implications for practice
*
Multiple agencies will be involved: (4)
LECH
Legal system
Education and/or child care
Child welfare (Child and Family Services)
Health care
Interventions: (4)
AH PIE
A teamwork, multiservice framework is used to coordinate services.
Home visitation programs
Parenting programs to enhance parenting skills;
Interventions with children to address the effects of the abuse;
Economic support to ensure that the family has the financial resources necessary to provide for children;
Social support programs have proven effective in the promotion of social support. Emotional support groups are the most common type of service. Why?
Social isolation and lack of social support have been identified as significant risk factors for child maltreatment.
What does exposure to interparental violence increase risk for in kids?
What can occur in teens?
self-blaming behaviours PTSD functional impairments * depression
What is one of the most common treatments for children exposed to interparental violents?
group counseling
The text site research that found that more than 40% of very young children with substantiated psychological maltreatment have?
severe developmental problems
