Nicole Majewski

4-29-16
Developmental Psych- Grinde
Lasting Effects of Physical Child Abuse
Child abuse can come in all shapes and sizes, but it can often be hard to depict what

constitutes as abuse and what does not. However, there is no denying that the effects child abuse

leaves on a child can follow them through their lifetime. One specific type of child abuse is

physical abuse. The American Humane Association defines physical abuse as non-accidental

physical injury as a result of punching, kicking, biting or other ways that a child might be

harmed. There can be various reasons why a parent would commit physical abuse and some

reasons may be hard to understand. Physical abuse has harsh effects on a child’s behavior, but

specifically in relation to their extracurricular performance, acts of aggression and on one’s

communication skills. Although physical abuse can happen early on in a child’s life, the

negative effects it has on ones behavior can last throughout their life.

According to Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, child abuse or neglect is any

act that causes a child serious physical or emotional harm or that places a child in imminent

danger of such harm. It is hard to pin-point why some parents decide to physically harm their

child. However, most studies have shown that most parents who abuse their own children were

once in fact abused when they were a child (Funk and Wagnalls). Abuse tends to occur in a

circular pattern and tends to run in families (Leach). It is also said that physical abuse is usually

a result of excessive or inappropriate physical discipline (American Humane Association). It is

hard to understand why people might turn to their child as their source of stress relief. However,

some parents physically abuse their child because they might be immature, lacking parenting

skills, frequent crisis situations, drug or alcohol abuse and they might even suffer from domestic
violence (American Humane Association). It is hard to picture someone beating their own child

but this form of abuse has grown into a major problem in our society. In fact, it has been

reported that about six million children are abused each year in the U.S. alone (Mokeyane).

Therefore, this form of abuse is affecting a large group of people and its effects are damaging to

ones development.

Physical child abuse is a negative behavior to begin with, but the effects it leaves on a

child’s extracurricular behaviors is negative as well. It is stated that children who have

experienced traumatic life events such as abuse are more likely to experiment with illegal

substances by the time they reach eighth grade (Mokeyane). If alcohol is a factor to a parent’s

abuse, their children are even more likely to abuse the substance. Alcohol can do harmful things

to one’s mind and body, especially if they drink underage. This is a dangerous substance and it

can be extremely scary if a child abuses it. Underage drinking is against the law and it is said

that children who are abused are fifty-nine percent more likely to be arrested as a juvenile and

thirty percent more likely to commit a violent crime (Mokeyane). Criminals or those convicted

of crimes tend to have a more difficult time finding a job or staying on a healthy path. Physical

abuse to a child can harm their future. Children who are mistreated are more likely to abuse

alcohol and break the law. Those who are abused are also more likely to miss school and even

less likely to anticipate going to college compared to other adolescents (Lansford). These are

prime examples of how a child’s extracurricular behaviors can be negatively affected due to

physical abuse. A child’s behavioral habits can effect what path their life will go down.

Children who are physically abused are more likely to experience difficulties in handling

their stress levels. It is said that children who are physically mistreated grow up to be more

aggressive than normal adolescents their age (Holmes). Children who are physically abused are
growing up in homes that accept violent behavior. A majority of abused children are growing up

expressing aggressive behavior. A study done by Robert Muller examined abuse between

children and their mothers or fathers. The study concluded that abuse from a father or mother is

a good predictor of aggressive behavior in girls and boys. An article by Suzanne Salzinger

concluded that children who are physically abuse tend to be more aggressive. Therefore,

children who experience abuse are more likely to be more aggressive which can be harmful to

others. High levels of aggression can be dangerous to people around that aggressive individual.

It is important for children to grow up learning how to control their feelings or stress in a calm

manner. Abused children are experiencing physical pain due to their parents being angry or

stressed. Therefore, some abused children grow up learning from their parents. However,

aggressive behavior is dangerous. Children growing up with aggressive attitudes and behaviors

can be harmful because that type of behavior might escalate as they age. Physical child abuse

can bring about high levels or aggression and low levels of empathy in those who are abused (De

Paúl). This is a negative behavior as it could harm those around the aggressive individual. This

is an example of how child abuse can negatively affect ones behavior as they age.

Physical abuse can be detrimental to a child and effect how they behave throughout their

life. However, there are many children who grew up in an abusive household whose behavior

was not negatively affected. Children who are physically abused might not understand that what

their parents are doing is wrong until they are adolescents. However, at some point those abused

children know that behavior is not allowed. Therefore, children who are abused understand how

much physical abuse can hurt. Children who went through abuse will then rethink how to punish

their own children. If one is abused as a child they will rethink using physical punishment to

harm their children. They would shy away from using physical contact which means their
behavior would be calm and not aggressive. The New York Times published an article and Dr.

Edward Zigler from Yale University stated that even though the cycle of violence is popular,

there are various parents who were abused as a child but they do not abuse their offspring.

Although many abusive parents were abused as a child, this is not the case for everyone.

Physical abuse does not have negative effects for everyone. There are various individuals who

are great parents even though they were mistreated while growing up. Some of the most loving

and patient parents were abused as a child. Those parents do not want their child to grow up like

they did. Therefore those parents go out of their way to show how much their love their

children. It can then be said that physical child abuse does not negatively affect everyone’s

behavior as they age.

A victim of physical child abuse might be able to understand that violence is not the

answer to parenting. However, their behavior can still negatively change in other aspects. For

example, a child who is physically abused is more prone to become socially withdrawn and

express depressive symptoms. A child who was abused might have a lower peer status while in

settings such as a classroom (Salzinger). Children who are abused might be described as

uncooperative in a group setting. It is found to be that those who have been abused are more

reserved, especially in school. It is difficult for adolescents to understand what they are learning

in class when they are too shy to take part in discussions. This usually goes undetected because

it is not disruptive, therefore teachers let it slide. Physical abuse can have extreme effects on a

children internal behavior such as their thought process and how they feel in a group setting. It

is important to be able to communicate with others especially in a society that heavily promotes

good social skills. However, children who are physically abused are usually not ones to speak

their mind to a group or interact in a large setting. Children who are abused have a hard time
working in groups because they tend to be more reserved. Children who are abused are also

prone to expressive depressive symptoms. This can make it even more difficult for adolescents

to make friends because depression makes it difficult for people to be happy or willing to interact

with others. Children who are physically abused have a harder time interacting with others

which influences their social skills and their learning inside classrooms. Therefore, physical

child abuse has a negative impact on children’s communication skills as they age which is

harming their social lives and their intellectual abilities.

Physical child abuse can leave visible and invisible scars on an individual. These scars

can leave a negative impact on how one behaves throughout their lifetime. It is said that children

who are abused take part in drug or alcohol abuse, aggressive behavior and they tend to be social

withdrawn as they might suffer from depression. These effects can have a negative impact on

how one behaves as they age. Although abused children tend to grow into abuse parents, abusive

children are able to understand that violence hurts. Therefore, some abused children grow up to

be loving parents. However, statistics say that about one third of abused children grow up to be

abusive parents (Goleman). There might be cases where abused children grow up to be

successful, but for a majority of children are severely affected by the abuse. Physical child abuse

is extremely harmful and it negatively effects how one behaves throughout the remainder of their

lifetime.
Works Cited

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