Generally, child abuse is categorized into neglect, and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. It is common for a child to suffer more than one form of abuse. For example, children who have been physically abused may also have been told that they are bad or stupid and that they deserve what they are getting, resulting in emotional consequences to the children.
Neglect occurs when a parent or caregiver does not provide for the basic emotional and physical needs of the child on an ongoing basis. Neglect includes not providing the proper:
- food;
- clothing;
- housing;
- supervision;
- safe surroundings;
- personal health care;
- medical and emotional care; and/or
- education.
Children who are neglected physically and emotionally may not develop normally. The consequences of neglect can be very serious, particularly for young children, with some children suffering permanent damage. Physical abuse includes all acts by a caregiver that result in physical harm to a child. Physical abuse may happen if a child is punished harshly, even though the parent or caregiver may not have meant to hurt the child.
Physical abuse
- Physical abuse may result in a minor injury (such as a bruise), to a more serious injury, which could cause lasting damage or death (for example, from shaking a child).
- Inappropriate punishment includes but is not limited to anything that leaves a mark on the child, or the use of an object to strike a child.
- Although cultural factors play a role in caring for and/or disciplining children, injuring a child is unacceptable.
Sexual abuse occurs when a person uses power over a child to involve the child in any sexual act.
- The power of the abuser can lie in his/her age, intellectual or physical development, relationship of authority over the child, and/or the child’s dependency on him/her.
- The sexual act is intended to gratify the needs of the abuser. “Touching” is not the only criteria in defining sexual abuse. It includes acts such as: fondling; genital stimulation; oral sex; exposing oneself; sexual exploitation over the Internet; as well as exposing a child to, or involving a child in pornography or prostitution.
- The offender may engage the child in the sexual activity through threats, bribes, force, lies, and by taking advantage of the child’s trust.
Most of the time, the offender is someone known to the child and trusted by the child/family.
Emotional abuse is the continual use of any of the following by a parent or caregiver when interacting or disciplining a child:
- rejecting (e.g., saying “I wish you were never born.”)
- criticizing (e.g., saying “Why can’t you do anything right?”)
- insulting (e.g., saying “I can’t believe you would be so stupid.”)
- humiliating (e.g., embarrassing a child in front of other people)
- isolating (e.g., not allowing a child to play with friends)
- terrorizing (e.g., scaring a child by saying “The police will come and take you away.”)
- corrupting (e.g., always swearing in front of the child, or getting the child to participate in things against the law)
- not responding emotionally
Children who are exposed to violence in their homes may suffer emotional harm watching a loved one being physically or verbally attacked.