Abuse And Neglect

Abuse and neglect both mean different things but they still both have an effect on the emotional and physical aspects of a person. They can also go hand in hand because an abuser may neglect a victim, as well as one who shows neglecting behavior can be abusive at the same time. According to Townsend (2015), abuse is on the rise in our society and that books, newspapers, movies, and television play a part by overwhelming their readers and viewers with violent and abusive behaviors (778). Victims and victimizers can be an array of individuals, races, religion, age, and economic class. Victims of abuse and neglect usually feel helpless or powerless, trapped, guilty, shame, depressed, have low self-esteem, and often are isolated socially …show more content…
(781). In phase III, the Honeymoon Phase, the abuser tries to make it up to the victim by becoming lovey, kind, promises that the abuse will never happen again, and the victim believes them (782). Exact predisposing factors of abuse are unknown, but Townsend (2015) describes multiple theories including: biological, where there are neurophysiologic, biochemical, genetic, and brain disorder influences; psychological, where there is a psychoanalytic and learning theory; and sociocultural, with societal influences (779-780). Townsend (2015) states that emotional abuse involves a pattern of behavior on the part of the abuser that results in serious impairment of the victim’s social, emotional, or intellectual functioning (783). Examples of this can be teasing for no reason, belittling, using constant and/or excessive punishment, blaming for things that the victim has no control over, humiliation, limiting physical contact, isolation and even exposure to abuse of others. Neglect is the failure to provide adequate care to an individual by delaying or refusing their care by physical, medical, psychosocial, or educational means. Although neglect can …show more content…
Although abuse and neglect are close in resemblance, they are still different from one another. Both may be intentional but negligence can be unintentional due to the lack of knowledge or education one might have in conjunction with lack of resources and needs one is financially unable to provide. With both abuse and neglect, intentional or unintentional, if witnessed or experienced, it should all be reported to either authorities or a trusted individual to where the victims can be helped. References
Burnes, D., Pillemer, K., Caccamise, P. L., Mason, A., Henderson, C. R., Berman, J., & ... Lachs,
M. S. (2015). Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Elder Abuse and Neglect in the Community: A
Population-Based Study. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 63(9), 1906-1912. doi:10.1111/jgs.13601 Savage, J., Palmer, J., & Martin, A. (2014). Intergenerational Transmission: Physical Abuse and
Violent vs. Nonviolent Criminal Outcomes. Journal Of Family Violence, 29(7), 739-748. doi:10.1007/s10896-014-9629-y Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice / edition 8 (8th ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis