Cruelty to children
Visualization of narrower problems
Name(s):
Child abuse
Child cruelty
Nature
Child abuse is a range of maltreatment. In addition to physical harm and sexual abuse, it also includes serious neglect of a child's emotional and physical needs and forms of emotional abuse such as incessant berating of a child. Severe emotional abuse, such as being extremely cold during infancy, can result in worse emotional and learning problems in children than emotionally responsive parents who are physically abusive. The earlier the maltreatment the more severe the consequences.
Incidence
In 1983, approximately 1.3 million cases of suspected child abuse were reported to various government agencies and authorities in the USA. This is a 900% increase over two decades.
Claim
Child abuse means not only incest, sexual violence, battery and murder. It included all the punishments still regarded by allegedly loving parents as necessary for a "proper" upbringing: smacks, spanking, verbal threats, humiliation, ridicule, criticism and emotional coldness, as well as circumcision and invasive obstetric practices.
Broader
Narrower
Aggravates
Repressed memories [in 4 loops]
Massive psychic traumatization [in 3 loops]
Physically handicapped children [in 1 loop]
State custody of deprived children [in 4 loops]
Soul murder [in 10 loops]
Aggravated by
Strategy(ies)
Reference(s)
Type
(C) Cross-sectoral problems