The Connection between Child Abuse and Crime

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Every year, child abuse and neglect affect more than one million children nation-wide (Currie and Tekin 1). Along with this, child abuse is the source of severe injury to more than 500,000 children and the death of over 1,500 children (Currie and Tekin 1). These outrageously large numbers reveal the extent to which child abuse and neglect impact society; however, they do not acknowledge the effect abuse can have on a child’s life and the repercussions that may occur in both the individual’s childhood and adulthood. While the effects most certainly include physical pain and possibly future disabilities, child abuse and neglect can also affects the child’s psychological welfare. Psychological effects are often more difficult to recognize, yet because certain research has been conducted, their impact on previous victims of child abuse and neglect can be determined. One of the many questions that have been extensively researched involve the connection between the psychological effects that take their toll on those previously subject to child abuse or neglect and crime that the victim commits later in his or her life. Although child abuse and neglect do not necessarily lead to crime, those who are subject to either form of maltreatment are at a significantly greater risk for partaking in criminal activity in adulthood; this idea can be supported by psychological theories, behavioral and emotional effects, and experimental data.
In order to understand the concept that child abuse and neglect enhances the possibility that an individual will commit crime, one must first understand the theories and reasoning behind the idea. There are three primary theories that social scientists have established: Social Learning Theory, Social Control T...

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