Emotional abuse in a child are any behaviors, speech or actions performed by the parents, caregiver or any other person that has a negative effect on to the child and make them feel emotionally disturbed. The actions that result in emotional abuse in a child include; Verbal attacks such as calling names and mocking, humiliating by bullying, threats, and intimidation followed by other bad treatments that lower the dignity of the child, identity, and their self-worth.
1. Child Protection (Case Study)
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2. Definition
Emotional abuse in a child are any behaviors, speech or actions performed by the
parents, caregiver or any other person that has a negative effect on to the child and make
them feel emotionally disturbed. The actions that result in emotional abuse in a child
include; Verbal attacks such as calling names and mocking, humiliating by bullying,
threats, and intimidation followed by other bad treatments that lower the dignity of the
child, identity, and their self-worth. Children that undergo emotional abuse tend to have
low self- esteem and they feel withdrawn hence getting depressed and have thoughts of
committing suicide (Smith, 2006).
Child neglect is a form of abuse whereby the parents or the caregiver continuously fails
to meet the basic requirements of the child such as the physical and psychological needs
hence negatively affecting the health, physical and emotional development of the child.
Neglect also includes failure of the caregiver to prevent harm or expose the child to
harm.
3. Indicators of Verbal Assault
The story obtained from the media narrates a girl child who was emotionally abused by her
mother through verbal attacks. The memories of the child are loud, angry episodes from her
mother who was very abusive and not ready to listen ("Child abuse: A survivor’s story",
2017). The indicators in the story that show the mother's speech emotionally abused the
child include:
Yelling and screaming to the child- in the story the child narrates how one day she could
not find shoes to go the church and instead of helping out, her mother was yelling and
screaming that she lost the shoes intentionally so that she could skip church. Name
calling to the child affected her emotionally because she had fear to say anything to her
mother or do anything when she was around because her mother would react
immediately. The yells and screams sunk deep into the child's thoughts and this clearly
indicates that the child was emotionally abused.
4. Indicators of Verbal Assault
Calling names- In the story, one day the mother called the child a "devil, a bitch" and said that she had
nothing good but all evil. The insults from the parent are a type of emotional abuse because they
affected the child emotions for a very long time. The insults made the girl feel that she is not good and
that nothing good can come out of her because she is horrible. The child could not get a chance to
express her worries to her mother because what she got in response were insults that were purposely
meant to hurt her. The insults to the child made her feel that she cannot achieve her dreams as low
self- esteem affected her. When the mother got angry, she could not correct the child in a polite way,
and the rude way she used made the child get afraid and live a life with distress.
5. Indicators of Verbal Assault
Putting the child down by telling her she cannot make it- When the child wanted to participate in
different activities, especially in school and other co-curriculum activities, her mother insisted that it
was a waste of time and she cannot achieve anything good. When the child was bullied by her
seniors in school, her mother could not listen, and all she responded that she is not a good student
and that is why she was being bullied. The mother also told her that she could not have any friends
and cannot make it in life. This made the child suffer emotional distress because of the verbal assault
that she received from the parent. The relationship between the child and her mother declined
because she felt that her mother did not appreciate her like other kids even when she did something
remarkable.
6. Indicators of Verbal Assault
All the negative words received by the child from her mother indicate clearly that the child
was emotionally abused verbally by her mother, by yelling and screaming at her, insulting
her and putting her down all the time. As a result of all the verbal attacks that the child
faced, her self-esteem lowered and got depressed thinking if she is what her mother says
about her. Verbal attacks from the parents is a type of emotional abuse that can be hard to
heal because of the trauma caused. The child opted to take drugs and alcohol to fool her
mind not to think about the negativity received from her mother ("Child abuse: A survivor’s
story", 2017).
The following professionals should be aware of the situation:
Local Child Protective Services- To support the child, they should evaluate the situation
National Child Abuse Centre- evaluate the situation and act accordingly
Counselor- To talk to both the mother and the child about the issue.
7. References
Child abuse: A survivor’s story. (2017). http://www.apa.org.
Retrieved 1 February 2017, from
http://www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2013/04/child-abuse.aspx
Smith, F., Carmi, E., Lyon, C. M., & Children Act Enterprises.
(2006). Child protection. South Croydon, Surrey: CAE.