Within the last few decades there has been an increase in public awareness concerning child sexual abuse. Child abuse is defined as intentional acts that result in physical or emotional harming. However most people don’t understand that there are different forms a child abuse; they include physical, neglect, and sexual abuse. Child abuse is widespread, one that most topics people would rather not think about. For the longest time individuals have been in denial because it’s easier when everyone believes that they live in a perfect world. When in reality, two hundred and forty seven child are abused each day, and of those children five will die each die of the neglect they faced. This accounts for 3.6 million cases of child abuse that is reported each year, and the number of children involved in there reports is six million (Whittier). This number of children who are being abused each year is unbelievable, just imagine how many cases go unreported each year. Repressed memories is a condition where a memory has been unconsciously blocked by an individual. This is normally caused when a person had faced high level of stress, or trauma. According to the American Psychological Association, it is not currently possible to distinguish a true repressed memory from a false one without corroborating evidence (PsycINFO). This is one reason why many psychologists who specialize in mental processes would result in being skeptical. This is because they specialize in the notion of repression included amnesia, which is established to be hard to prove (Immelman). While psychologist who specialized in counseling and psychotherapy are generally more convinced, because of the evidence to back up the data of repressed memories (Im... ... middle of paper ... ...ks help from a psychiatrist has true or false memories of past sexual abuse, they are entitled to sympathetic and competent care. Good, standard psychiatric practice offers the best prospect of helping a patient to identify and come to terms with past traumatic events. Works Cited Brandon, S., J. Glasser, and R. Green. "Recovered Memories of Child Sexual Abuse." British Journal of Psychiatry. Implications for Clinical Practice, 12 Dec. 1997. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "Can a Memory Be Forgotten and Then Remembered?" PsycINFO. EBSCO, 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Immelman, Aubrey. "Recovered Memory of Childhood Sexual Abuse." Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics. Saint John’s University, Minn., 26 Mar. 2001. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Whittier, Mary. "Child Sexual Abuse: The Epidemic No One Talks about." Daily Messenger. Gatehouse Media, Inc., 6 Apr. 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today (Darness2Light, 2009a ). This figure continues to grow daily as perpetrators of this crime continue in this destructive path. The definition of child sexual abuse is the force, coercion, or cajoling of children into sexual activities by a dominant adult or adolescent. Sexual abuse of children includes touching (physical) sexually including: fondling; penetration (vaginal or anal using fingers, foreign objects or offenders organs; oral sex, or non-physical contact including: sexual comments; indecent exposures; masturbating in a child’s presence; child prostitution or child pornography (Child Welfare, 2009a).
Could you imagine how children must feel when they are abused by someone that is supposed to love and protect them, and nothing is done to help them? For this reason, it is important to realize there are legislative laws protecting child abusers from hate crimes, and excuses certain people from mandated reporting abuse. In fact, almost five children die every day as a result of abuse. Also, money is spent to convict and imprison child abusers which could be put towards programs that help people to recognize and prevent abuse. Children are the future; therefore, it is important for them to grow up in an environment they can thrive, feel safe and free from harm. After all, as the old saying “It takes a village to raise a child” stands true to this day. Now is the time for everyone to put forth the extra effort to create ways to bring child abuse, a growing epidemic to an end. As responsible citizens it is the duty to report when child abuse is suspected, create laws that
Since the case of Mary Ellen Wilson in 1874, child abuse has seen it’s share of light in published news. It is disheartening to read countless stories of future generations being harmed to the extent of psychological damage or even death. Child abuse as a whole has been addressed multiple times in various news blogs, however, nothing has been done to work towards abolishing it at a larger level. The future of America is in jeopardy based on the level of abuse that children endure. Childhelp states that approximately 5 children die every day at the hands of child abuse. America struggles to find equality, and by bystanding the stripping of its youth, continual prolonging is inevitable. Raising this nation’s children in means of nurturing and care is the first step to uplifting America as a whole. In 2012 alone, 1593 of America’s children died at the hands of child abuse, 70.3% of which were younger than the age of three (Safe Horizon). In order to prevent further child abuse, the American government should address stricter child protection laws, psychological stability, and an increase the recognition of those that have released their stories.
Gartner, Richard B. Betrayed as Boys: Psychodynamic Treatment of Sexually Abused Men. New York: Guilford, 1999. Print.
McNally, R. J., Clancy, S. A., Schacter, D. L., & Pitman, R. K. (2000). Cognitive processing of trauma cues in adults reporting repressed, recovered, or continuous memories of childhood sexual abuse. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 109(3), 355-359. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.109.3.355
"Understanding Child Sexual Abuse: Education, Prevention and Recovery." Http://www.apa.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
Ever since it was thought of by psychologist Sigmund Freud the topic has been a debatable one for some time now with critics on both sides arguing over its validity. Many psychologists have claimed that the research is preposterous and impossible to prove. One researcher in particular, Dr. Richard J. McNally, is quoted in an article saying, “The notion that traumatic events can be repressed and later recovered is the most pernicious bit of folklore ever to infect psychology and psychiatry” (Media Report). In the past 30 years individuals have begun coming forth claiming that they were victims of childhood sexual abuse, CSA, years prior to sharing with media. The victims claimed that they had not recalled the abuse until recently and had been repressing the memory of it. Ever since then researchers have been looking for answers in...
This paper outlines the consequences of child sexual abuse (CSA) based on the examination of results from multiple researches previously fulfilled concerning the psychological and physical impact of this crime, information of statistics, warning signs detected, victims’ performances, and emotional state. Sexual abuse causes severe trauma on child victims that will last for the course of their lives, therefore it is critical to identify and improve the therapeutic methods utilized to treat CSA survivors.
Child abuse in America is an ongoing problem and something needs to be done. There are approximately one million children abused annually in the United States. (Table 339) Cases of child abuse and neglect are reported every ten seconds, and researchers believe that there’s three times that amount that goes unnoticed. (Child Abuse: Know the Signs and Stop the Violence Against Children.) Something needs to be done for these children who are too weak and too powerless to help themselves.
In recent years there has been a hot debate between "repressed" vs. "false" memories. Neurobiological studies show that both suppression and recall and the creation of false memories are possible. This paper evaluates the evidence but forth by both sides of the controversy and concludes that both are feasible and separate phenomenon, which occur at significant rates in our society.
Sharples, Tiffany. "Study: Most Child Abuse Goes Unreported." Www.time.com. N.p., 2 Dec. 2008. Web. 7 Jan. 2014.
Child abuse is an issue in every state, every country, worldwide. There is no place that is immune to child abuse. This being stated they need better policies in place regarding the education on child abuse. Many people have many different opinions on how to lessen the amount of child abuse that goes on in this country, however many of them focus on stricter punishment for the abuser’s (Hmurovich, 2009). However, they know that stricter punishment will not lessen the amount of child abuse; it would truly have little to no impact on...
More importantly, “60 percent of children who are sexually abused do not disclose and most are acquaintances but as many as 47 percent are family or extended family” (The Scope of, 2016). The prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult to determine because it is often not reported; experts agree that the incidence is far greater than what is reported to authorities (Child Sexual Abuse, 2012). Startling statistics represent the depth of the issue. Globally, prevalence rates show that a range of 7-36% of women and 3-29% of men experience sexual abuse in childhood (The Scope of, 2016). “The U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau report child maltreatment 2010 found that 9.2% of victimized children were sexually assaulted” (Child Sexual Abuse,
A major American society issue is child abuse and it just keeps increasing with each new generation. We need to always be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of child abuse and report it to proper authorities. “Approximately five children die every day because of child abuse” (Ho, Gross, & Bettencourt, 2017). “One out of three girls and one out of five boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18” (Gosselin, 2014). And, 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator such as a family member” (Ho, Gross, & Bettencourt, 2017). As healthcare providers, we are these children’s option to live another day because more than four children die daily from neglect and child abuse (Ho, Gross, & Bettencourt,
Child abuse is one of the highest growing social problems in the United States. A social problem is, “a condition that a significant number of people believe to be a problem. A condition in which there is a sizable difference between the ideals of a society and its actual achievements” (Coleman et al. 2006:2). However, society has changed the way it views the issue, and is working towards finding a solution to this awful problem. Child abuse encompasses four main areas: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Child abuse is considered a sociological phenomenon because it is a learned behavior. Learning the social patterns as to why people abuse will give a better understanding to its reasons, and also the development of society in the way that it views children. 3.6 million children were victims of abuse in the year 2006. Sixty four percent were victims of neglect, sixteen percent suffered from physical abuse, and eight percent were sexually abused. Also in 2006, 1,530 children died as a result of abuse; an average of four children everyday (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2008).