PART ONE
Even if the neglect’s treats to children’s healthy growth and well-being bear great significance, research in this area is poor compared to research on child maltreatment. This essay about child neglect has two parts. Firstly, I will discuss the relevant theoretical and research literature that addresses the topic of neglect. Second, I will describe and evaluate an interview schedule that I designed to capture children’s discourses on child neglect.
Child neglect occurs when the caregiver fails to act responsibly by not providing the right care and attention that is considered to be necessary to meet the developmental needs of a child. Child neglect usually begins when the child is of early age, its negative effect on developmental abilities and limitations building up over time. The most common form of child neglect is failure to supervise the child properly, whereas physical neglect is the second most common form of child neglect. Emotional neglect could lead to the development of behavioral, cognitive or mental disorders and it is considered to be the most difficult type of maltreatment to capture (Hildyard & Wolfe, 2002).
Evidence for the negative impact of neglect on early cognitive and academic development was broght by early American studies. One observational longitudinal study followed the development of 267 children whose mothers presented high risk for parental problems (Egeland & Sroufe, 1981 as cited in Hildyard & Wolfe, 2002). At 2 years of age, physically neglected children were more frustrated and angry in problem-solving tasks than nonmaltreated and other maltreated children. Two years later, these children showed poor impulse control and creativity when confronted with a problem-solving task (Hildyard ...
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...tory of abuse and neglect in early childhood is also associated with running away from home (Kaufman and Widon, 1999 as cited in Hildyard & Wolfe, 2002), high-risk for delinquency (Widon, 2001 as cited in Hildyard & Wolfe, 2002) and risk for personality disorders in early adulthood (Johnson et al., 1999 as cited in Hildyard & Wolfe, 2002).
The child-parent relationship is expected to be protective, supportive and nurturing. A neglectful family fails to provide consistent and appropriate opportunities to guide the child’s development. Neglect is the most chronic form of all other forms of maltreatment and this might be the reason why it is so detrimental to successful adaptation. The next part of this essay will be the description and the discussion of an interview schedule (see appendix A) focused on children’s broad ideas and assumptions about neglect of children.
The United States defines child maltreatment as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious injury or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm” (McCoy & Keen, 2009, p. 63). This legal definition is better understood by the idea that a caregiver repeatedly fails to provide the most basic care necessary for a child. Although abandonment is often the first thing that comes to mind when one hears the word “neglect...
In conclusion, Child abuse and neglect is more common in children’s lives today. A child may be harmed and be right in front of us and we do not even know it. We have to watch out for the signs and symptoms to try and help a child out. We may not even realize it till it is too late. The effect can appear in all aspects of life, rather it being psychological or behavioral. These effects can range from anything such as minor physical injury, not getting along with others, or become aggressive and affect them later on in life.
The portrayal of the parent/guardian relationship in Hector Hugh Munro’s “Sredni Vashtar” and John Collier’s “Thus I Refute Beelzy” demonstrates the devastating effects on Conradin’s and small Simon’s well being due to neglect. The sole- purpose of a parent/guardian relationship is to provide the child with protection, nourishment, continuous affection, and an adequate amount of freedom. The failure to provide these four essential elements affects children psychologically and physically.
“Although experience may affect human brain structure and function throughout the entire life span, evidence…..suggests that early experience may be particularly critical” (Rao et al., 2010). During the childhood years, adequate nurturance by parents has a large impact on optimal biological and psychological development. This includes neurological, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Rao et al. (2010) broadly define nurturance as including “warmth, affection, and acceptance” (p. 1145). Like nurturance, many researchers have looked at the importance of similar issues such as attention, attachment, and bonding. Conversely, issues such as stressful environments and unstable relationships have been shown to have negative consequences on childhood development. The importance of this early childhood nurturance is evident in the story of Michel Oher as described in the movie The Blind Side. Due to his neglectful upbringing, Michael has many academic deficits including language problems as well as having limited social and stress management skills. However, when taken in by the Tuohy family Michael begins to thrive and flourish due to the encouraging attention he receives and the positive environment in which he now lives. Although Michael’s case is atypical, not every impoverished child gets a second chance, it does illustrate the effects that improper, and later adequate, nurturance has on a child and his or her development.
Neglect (the failure to provide for the child?s basic needs) can be physical, educational, or emotional. Physical neglect can include not providing adequate food, clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision, or proper weather protection (heating or coats) to the child. Educational neglect can include failure to provide appropriate schooling or special educational needs, allowing excessive truancies, to the child. Psychological neglect is the lack of any emotional support and love, never attending to the child, spousal abuse, or drug and alcohol abuse including allowing the child to participate in drug and alcohol use.
From birth, children are dependent on parents for survival and safety. Infants need this attachment in order to survive. Basic needs like shelter and food are things in that all human beings need; but for infants and children, in particular, they cannot survive independently without parents and guidance. Furthermore, as children grow, the parent-child attachment is not just physical, but it is also psychological. Adults who care for children through unconditional love and acceptance, provide positive living environments and self confidence which helps the child grow independently into an adult. Failure in this child-parent relationship in the form of long term neglect or trauma can have consequences in a child’s development physically and psychologically.
In the third edition of Family Violence across the lifespan (2011) by authors Ola W. Barnett, Cindy L. Miller-Perrin, and Robin D. Perrin explain the definition of child neglect. The definition of child abuse varies due to the numerous perspectives. While there is a lack of agreement on a solid definition of the term – experts agree that when a child’s basic needs are not fulfilled, then that qualifies as child neglect. In this section of chapter 3, it is mentioned that for the definition of child neglect, the intentionality of the abuse is an important factor (Barnett, Perrin, and Perrin 2011:85). The concept of intentionality being a factor of child abuse is relevant in
Child abuse and neglect are “social” issues that were addressed by the author. While children are in foster care, they may become victims of maltreatment: child neglect, child emotional, physical and sexual abuse. The terms neglect refers to when parents fail to provide a child’s basic needs and provide satisfactory level of care (Downs, Moore and McFadden, 2009). An example of a child being neglected is when parents or c...
Neglect affects a child’s “cognitive, and language development in addition it can lead to academic delays, problems with their peers, it can lead to mental health problems and aggression or other behavioral problems,” (futureiofchildren.org). A child in an unhealthy family system may experience a lack in nutrient, a lack of supervision which can lead to emotional, behavioral, and social delays. This is also known as “failure to thrive,” (futureofchildren.org). When a family system fails, children have trouble attaching to the caregiver this can cause emotional distress, insecurities and trust issues. (futureofchildren.org) Poor family systems, and children’s inability to development in all areas of growth is linked by poor
A controversial discussion of child neglect has erupted within many writers, scholars, and social workers. This discussion has collided many individuals to bring up certain details to defend their position. Child neglect has become a discussion within many due to the accuracy its long term effect has on children. Many indigenous people say that child neglect can be forgotten with time, while others believe child neglect can never be forgotten, and can create a scared,dramatic trauma to the future of the child. What hasn't been brought into discussion is the physical and emotional pain brought upon a child due to neglect. Within these individuals their are some who express there opinions through writing besides verbally accessing the discussion. However, the only way to truly understand the emotional aspect of a child neglect would be from a perspective of those who have been neglected themselves, or those who have witnesses it. What is the actual definition of child neglect and what are the emotions the child goes through afterward? The contemporary cultural issue of child neglect can be analyzed with the works of Sylvia Plath's “Daddy” and Joyce Carol Oates “When I Was A Little Girl and My Mother Didn't Want Me”, to unravel the true definition of child neglect and the permanent effect of emotional scars left caused by the neglect. These works provide readers with the negative impacts of emotional child neglect and how their character's invisible scars are able to be identified by others.
Child maltreatment can affect any child, usually aged 0-18, and it occurs across socioeconomic, religious, ethnic or even educational backgrounds. Arguably, child abuse and neglect is a violation of basic human rights of a child resulting from social, familial, psychological and economic factors (Kiran, 2011). Familial factors include lack of support, poverty, single parenthood, and domestic violence among others, (McCoy and Keen, 2009). The common types of child maltreatment include physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, neglect, and sexual abuse among others. Abuse and neglect can lead to a variety of impacts on children and young people such as physical, behavioral as well as psychological consequences which will affect the development and growth of the child either positively or negatively based on the environment and agency. More so, emotional, cognitive and physical developmental impacts from child neglect in the early stages of childhood can be carried on into adulthood. Research findings reveal that the experience of maltreatment can cause major long-term consequences on all aspects of a child’s health, growth as well as intellectual development and mental wellbeing, and these effects can impair their functioning as adults. Commonly, the act of abuse/ or neglect toward a child affects the child’s physical, behavioral development and growth, which can be positive or negative, depending on the child’s environment and agency. Another way to understand how the act has affected the child is to look at the child for who they are, and interviewing and observing their behaviors of their everyday life.
Child neglect is the most common form of maltreatment towards children, which may lead to various short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences. It is known to coincide with other forms of abuse and difficulties. Infants and toddlers are often the main victims of neglect.
"Neglect - Children, Functioning, Effects, Therapy, Adults, Brain, Skills, Health, Definition, Effects of Neglect, Prevention and Treatment." Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Web. 22 Jan. 2011. .
Failure to provide a child with basic necessary needs is known as neglect. Neglect has become the most common form of child abuse, and its effects have been recognized as the most detrimental to a child’s development. According to Zorika Petic Henderson’s article “Maltreated Children Fail in School”, Childr...
A neglectful parent can be defined as someone who doesn’t give proper care or attention to their children. There are two types of parents that fall under this category: a parent who doesn’t care and a parent who isn’t around. The first type of neglectful parent allows their children to do whatever they want, whenever they want, with no consequences or repercussions. They give their children too much freedom and space, which makes the child reliant on themselves. This could lead to them making very poor choices because of their lack of guidance. The second type of parent - the parent who isn’t around - is the most harmful kind of parent to a child. The children of this type of parent are left alone constantly, and almost always have to fend for themselves. They have almost no means of getting what they need to survive, let alone have rules or consequences. The children become completely dependent on themselves and have to learn how to take care of themselves and their