Physical abuse involves
contact that is intended to cause pain, injury, or other physical suffering or harm. Some forms of physical abuse include: striking, punching, pushing, pulling, slapping,
striking with an object, pinching, kicking, kneeing, strangling, drowning, sleep
deprivation, exposure to cold (freezing), exposure to heat (burning), cutting and exposure
to electricity (shocking). A special form of physical abuse is sexual abuse.
Physical abuse can occur within any
family and can be inflicted on any member including children, teens, adults, and elderly
parents. It can occur in both wealthy and
less fortunate families. Both the victim and
abuser need professional intervention and psychological treatment to successfully cope
with the effects of physical abuse and develop more appropriate patterns of interaction. Victim of physical abuse often suffer from learned
helplessness, depression, anxiety, intense anger, and can become suicidal.
Sexual abuse is not limited to
sexual intercourse. It can include any of the
following: suggestive conversations, forced
viewing of pornography, inappropriate touching, oral sex, anal sex, inappropriate
nakedness, forced posing for pictures, and forced sexual intercourse. Sexual abuse can occur between a husband and his
wife, father and daughter, mother and son, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews, and virtual
strangers.
Mental abuse, also frequently
referred to as emotional abuse, can be difficult to identify and prove due to the lack of
physical sign. Mental abuse refers to one
person’s use of power or influence to adversely affect the mental or emotional
well-being of another. Common forms of mental
abuse occur through one or more of the following behaviors: belittling, threatening,
bullying, shouting/yelling, criticizing, rejecting, degrading, withdrawing, and
exploiting.
Personal awareness and understanding is
key to addressing this common form of abuse. Victims
of mental abuse often suffer from low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, little self-worth,
and can become suicidal. Suffering such abuse
can lead to long term psychological effects. Psychotherapy
is essential is overcoming the negative effects of abuse for the victim and is a key
factor in altering the exhibition of abusive behaviors in the perpetrator.
