Concepts of Abuse and Neglect Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 3 types of Abuse and their definitions? + neglect
A
Physical Abuse: infliction of physical injury
Sexual Abuse: inappropriate exposure or sexual contact, activity or behaviour without consent
Psychological Abuse: Emotional, verbal, mental injury
Neglect: Failing to meet physical, emotional, or other needs
2
Q
Do different types occur separately?
A
- Occur separately but are often seen in combination
- Psychological abuse almost always accompanies other forms of abuse
3
Q
Indicators & Dynamics of Sexual Abuse
A
- Physical/Anatomical signs/injuries associated with genital and rectal areas
- Extreme changes in behaviour (regression, fear & anxiety, withdrawal, sleep disturbances, recurrent nightmares)
- With children maybe unusual interest in sexual matters or know inappropriate sexual information for their age group
- Sexual promiscuity, sexual victimization & prostitution
- For children one of the most significant factors contributing to adjustment after sexual abuse is the level of parental support.
4
Q
What are influencing factors of Sexual Abuse?
A
- Age of victim (at time of abuse & assessment)
- Extent & duration of sexual abuse
- Relationship of offender to victim
- Reaction of others to abuse
- Other life experiences
5
Q
Immediately after disclosure of sexual abuse, an individual is at risk for:
A
- Disbelief by others (especially if victim is child and perpetrator is spouse/partner)
- Rejection by others
- Blamed for the abuse and consequences of disclosing abuse
- Rejection by others
6
Q
What are some effects of sexual abuse?
A
- Aversive feelings about sex, overvaluing sex, sexual identity problems, hypersexual behaviours
- Feelings of shame, guilt, responsibility reflected in self destructive behaviours (SU, self mutilation, suicidal ideation, gestures and acts to provoke punishment)
- Lack of trust, unwillingness to invest in others, involvement in exploitive relationships, angry acting out
- Perceived vulnerability & victimization
- Phobias, sleep, eating problems
7
Q
What are the indicators & dynamics of Psychological abuse & neglect?
A
- Sustained, repetitive, inappropriate behaviour aimed at threatening, isolating, discrediting, belittling, teasing, humiliation, bullying, confusing, and or ignoring
- Can be seen in constant criticism, belittling, teasing, ignoring, withholding praise/affection, placing excessive/unreasonable demands about what is appropriate
- Can impact intelligence, memory, recognition, perception, attention, imagination, moral development
- Those who have been psychologically abused are likely to be fearful, withdrawn, resentful/distressed and despairing
- Likely to feel unloved, worthless, unwanted, only valued in meeting others needs
8
Q
Victims of Psychological abuse and neglect often:
A
- Avoid eye contact and experience deep loneliness, anxiety and/or despair
- Have a flat/superficial way of relating with little empathy toward others
- Have a lowered capacity to engage appropriately with others
- Engage in bullying, disruptive or aggressive behaviours towards others
- Engage in self harming/destructive behaviour
9
Q
What are the dynamics of physical abuse?
A
- Nonaccidental trauma or physical injury cause by punching, beating, kicking, biting or burning
- Most visible form as there are usually physical signs
- With children can result from inappropriate/excessive physical discipline
- Most visible form as there are usually physical signs
10
Q
What are the indicators of physical abuse?
A
- Unexplained bruises or welts on the face, lips, mouth, torso, back, buttocks, thighs sometimes reflecting shape of article used
- Unexplained burns from cigar/cigarette especially on hands, back, butt
- Unexplained fractures to the skull, nose or facial structure
- Unexplained lacerations or abrasions to mouth, lips, gums, eyes, external genitalia
- Behavioural: being way of individuals - parent or caretaker, aggressiveness/withdrawal, fear of reporting injury
11
Q
What are the effects of Physical, Sexual, & Psychological Abuse
A
- Both immediate & long term consequences
- Impacts influenced by extent & type of abuse/neglect, whether it was continual or infrequent, the age at which it occurred, relationship to perpetrator, how it was discovered and addressed upon disclosure
- Client personality traits, inner strength, and support systems also influences
- Impacts often not immediately evident
○ Physical injuries if any usually temporary
○ More damaging & lasting impacts are impaired language, cognitive & physical development - Children at risk of academic problems and school failure - difficulty following rules, being respectful, staying in seats & keeping on task, temper tantrums/difficult peer relationships
- Social & emotional problems, poor relationships, SU & dependency, risky/violent behaviours, delinquency are manifestations
- Consequences include: isolation, fear, inability to trust, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, hopelessness - can lead to relationship problems and antisocial behavioural traits
- Not all those who have been abused/neglected will experience problems - lack of problems doesn’t mean it didn’t occur
12
Q
What are the indicators, dynamics, & impacts of exploitation across the lifespan?
A
- Financial, Immigration Status, Sexual Trafficking
- Treating someone badly to benefit from their resources/work - using the situation to gain an unfair advantage
- More common with power differentials - social status, ability, income, education, job position, gender
- On a macro level, important to see the relationship between discrimination & exploitation
○ Most social problems are aggravated by the status of particular groups in society
§ Greater prevalence of poverty among POC & female household heads
§ Poverty decreases opportunities for employment, education, goods etc.
§ Poverty creates greater stresses that lead to physical & mental illness, family breakdown, inability to work & other problems
- Discrimination creates deficits in social power
13
Q
What are the characteristics of perpetrators of abuse, neglect & exploitation
A
- Having one of these factors doesn’t mean that an individual will become an abuser, but abusers are likely to have 1+ of these risk factors
- A past history of violent behaviour is the best predictor of future violence
○ Each prior act increases chance of future episodes - Those who suffered some form of abuse as children more likely to be perpetrators of abuse as adults
- History of owning weapons & using them against others
- Criminal history, repetitive antisocial behaviour
- Drug & Alcohol use
- Psychiatric disorder w/ coexisting substance abuse
- Certain psychiatric symptoms (psychosis, intense suspiciousness, anger/unhappiness)
- Personality disorders (Borderline & Antisocial)
- History of impulsivity, low frustration tolerance, recklessness, inability to tolerate criticism, entitlement
- Angry affect without empathy, high anger = increased chance of violence
- Environmental stressors: lower SES, job loss
- A past history of violent behaviour is the best predictor of future violence
14
Q
What are stressors?
A
history of abuse, isolated with lack of social supports, low sense of self-competence & self-esteem, financial problems
15
Q
What are some examples of poor skills?
A
Rigid authoritarian, low IQ, poor self control, poor communication, problem solving, interpersonal skills
