Child Psychological Abuse

Question 1

…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)

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Definition of “psychological maltreatment” (Roberta from her book, Heavy Hands)

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Children who regularly hear that they are worthless, stupid, unlovable, or ugly, will …

Answer 3

come to believe these things

begin to act like they are these descriptions.

Question 4

It is likely that nearly all parents, at some level,

Answer 4

psychologically mistreat their children at some time by saying or doing hurtful things they later regret

Question 5

Is child psychological abuse is not considered to be…?
*
How about reporting it?

Answer 5

an assault or a crime
*
It is often difficult to report.

Question 6

Why should emotional or psychological abuse be seen as a “red flag” to professionals?
*
What to listen for?

Answer 6

Emotional or psychological abuse often accompanies other forms of abusive behaviour.

Children will often talk about psychological abuse before physical.

Question 7

6 categories of parental behaviour
*
TIMES Denying

Answer 7

Terrorizing
Isolating
Mental health/medical/educational neglect 
Exploiting/corrupting
Spurning
Denying emotional responsiveness

Question 8

6 categories of parental behaviour

Terrorizing

Answer 8

threatening to hurt or kill the child or their loved ones or pets or possessions

Question 9

6 categories of parental behaviour

Isolating

Answer 9

no contact with others

locking in a cellar or closet

Question 10

6 categories of parental behaviour
Mental health/ medical/educational neglect
*
There was nothing in her notes re. this category of parental behaviour.

Answer 10

hong kong phooey

Question 11

6 categories of parental behaviour
Exploiting/corrupting (3)
GEM

Answer 11

giving them alcohol or drugs
encouraging misbehaviour – vandalism
making them a surrogate parent

Question 12

6 categories of parental behaviour

Spurning

Answer 12

verbal and nonverbal

hostile rejecting/degrading behaviours

Question 13

6 categories of parental behaviour
Denying emotional responsiveness (3)
INS

Answer 13

ignoring
no positive responses
silent treatment

Question 14

Research?

Answer 14

Very little
• definitional ambiguity
• least common form of reported and substantiated maltreatment

Question 15

It is the least common form of reported and substantiated maltreatment but also assumed to be?

Answer 15

The most common type of maltreatment

Question 16

Describe psychological abuse in terms of damage

Answer 16

appears to be as damaging as physical abuse if not more so

Question 17

Experts assume that every subtype of child abuse – physical, sexual, neglect - encompasses

Answer 17

an element of psychological abuse

Question 18

Consequences
Initial (3) Ip Id A-b
LT (1) A-b

Answer 18

Initial
interpersonal problems
intellectual deficits
affective-behavioural problems

Long term
Continued Affective-behavioural problems

Question 19

Affective-behavioural problems – name off some
*
What does Roberta say about these problems?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

The most consistent consequences are (5)
Low SS
Feeling IIU
*
These feelings are?

Answer 20

LOW 
self-esteem
self-confidence
*
FEELING 
unworthy of the respect / attn of others
incompetent
irrelevant
*
These feelings are pervasive, not situational.

Question 21

Implications for practice
*
The most effective interventions are those which?

Answer 21

use a team or multiservice approach

Question 22

Implications for practice
*
Multiple agencies will be involved: (4)
LECH

Answer 22

Legal system
Education and/or child care
Child welfare (Child and Family Services)
Health care

Question 23

Interventions: (4)

AH PIE

Answer 23

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;

Question 24

Social support programs have proven effective in the promotion of social support. Emotional support groups are the most common type of service. Why?

Answer 24

Social isolation and lack of social support have been identified as significant risk factors for child maltreatment.

Question 25

What does exposure to interparental violence increase risk for in kids?
What can occur in teens?

Answer 25

self-blaming behaviours
PTSD
functional impairments
*
depression

Question 26

What is one of the most common treatments for children exposed to interparental violents?

Answer 26

group counseling

Question 27

The text site research that found that more than 40% of very young children with substantiated psychological maltreatment have?

Answer 27

severe developmental problems