The Effects Of Physical Abuse

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Physical abuse can cause kids not only physical pain but also emotional pain. Yablonsky states that kids who are physically abused “denigrate themselves, feel worthless and are less likely to care about what happens to them.” Yablonsky findings show that physical abuse makes kids more likely to commit crimes and join gangs. Kids, unlike adults, get easily sad over small problems. Physical abuse can make kids feel depressed and terrified which consequently develop low self-esteem. They feel it is worthless to live in this chaotic world. As a result, they do whatever they want even if it is bad thing. Therefore, kids who are physically abused are more likely to commit crimes and engage in criminal behavior. Besides, Luis Rodriguez, former gangster, …show more content…

Yablonsky gives an example of L.K, a thirteen-year-old gangster, “the gang gave this emotionally needy youth some sense of self-respect and power in his chaotic world.” L.K. was physically abused by his drug addict father when he was young. His father’s physical abuse made him develop low self-esteem and he thought he was a loser. However, the gang gave him positive approval and power which he desperately needed. Therefore, kids who are physically abused think that gang is the only place where they can get power. Isis, a former gangster states that “I really liked the feeling that no one could mess with me. That I was invincible.” There were violent students in Isis’s high school and she also had to act violent to protect herself which made her feel she was undefeatable. Physical abuse makes kids egocentric and they feel that gang can make them strong and no one would abuse them. Besides, Luis states that “I wanted what Thee Mystics had; I wanted the power to hurt somebody.” When Luis saw Thee Mystics made violence and all the people were afraid of them, he also wanted the power that Thee Mystics had which he had never before as he was physically abused several times. Therefore, kids who are physically abused want power to hurt others which makes them engage in criminal behavior and join

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