NCJ Number
44711
Journal
PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGY Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1976) Pages: 12-16
Date Published
1976
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE, THE HOME ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH IT IS EMBEDDED, AND TRADITIONAL METHODS OF TREATMENT FOR CHILD ABUSE ON THE CHILD'S PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE MOST COMMON APPROACH TO INTERVENING IN SERIOUS CASES OF CHILD ABUSE IS TO TAKE THE CHILD INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY. MEDICAL CARE OF INJURIES AND PROVISION OF A PLACE OF PHYSICAL SAFETY ARE OFFERED THE CHILD, AND THE PARENT USUALLY RECEIVES SOME FORM OF PREVENTIVE TREATMENT TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF REPEATED CHILD ABUSE. NEITHER OF THESE MEASURES BRINGS ABOUT A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP, HOWEVER, AND THE CHILD'S PSYCHOLOGICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL WOUNDS ARE NOT GIVEN ATTENTION. PRESCRIBED SEPARATION FROM THE PARENT ADDS TO THE EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS ALREADY PRESENT IN THE ABUSED CHILD AND INTRODUCES YET ANOTHER COMPLICATING FACTOR INTO AN ALREADY TENUOUS PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP. WHEN THE CHILD IS RETURNED HOME, THE ABNORMAL PARENT BEHAVIORS MAY REMAIN BASICALLY UNCHANGED AND POSE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND POSSIBLY PHYSICAL DANGER FOR THE CHILD. TREATMENT FOR ABUSIVE FAMILIES MUST BE REASSESSED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EFFECTS OF INFLICTED PHYSICAL TRAUMA AND THE EFFECTS OF THE ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THE ABUSED CHILD. PHYSICAL TRAUMA MAY RESULT IN VARYING DEGREES OF BRAIN DAMAGE, WHICH RENDERS THE CHILD LESS ABLE TO MEET PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS SO CRUCIALLY RELATED TO ABUSE AND MAY GIVE RISE TO ADDITIONAL VIOLENCE. THE SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF BEING REARED IN AN ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, OFTEN CHARACTERIZED BY ELEMENTS OF DEPRIVATION, NEGLECT, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCE IN PARENTS, SEXUAL ABUSE, UNDERNUTRITION, OR OTHER FORMS OF UNSTABLE FAMILY FUNCTION, CAUSE THE CHILD TO DEVELOP ADAPTING MECHANISMS FOR SURVIVAL. THESE INCLUDE HYPERVIGILANCE, IN WHICH THE CHILD BECOMES A 'WATCHER' OR ACUTELY SENSITIVE OBSERVER IN ORDER TO SATISFY ADULT DEMANDS; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A 'CHAMELEON NATURE' FOR CHANGING BEHAVIOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH NUANCES OF THE ENVIRONMENT; THE RESTRICTION OF VARIOUS AUTONOMOUS EGO FUNCTIONS, E.G., THROUGH INHIBITION, DENIAL OF DRIVES AND IMPULSES AND WITHDRAWAL AND AVOIDANCE; AND ROLE REVERSALS BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD, NOT ONLY TO KEEP THE CHILD SAFE FROM VERBAL OR PHYSICAL ATTACK BUT ALSO TO HELP HIM OR HER OBTAIN ATTENTION AND APPROVAL FROM PARENTS. DELAYED DISTORTED, AND ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT ARE COMMON AMONG ABUSED CHILDREN AS A RESULT OF INHIBITING AUTONOMOUS FUNCTIONS. THE PROFESSIONAL ATTEMPTING TO TREAT AN ABUSED CHILD MUST MAKE MORE CONCERTED EFFORT TO ELICIT UNCONSCIOUS MATERIAL IN ORDER TO BETTER ASSESS THE CHILD'S PYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAS)