TO STOP ABUSE
The definition of physical child abuse is any physical force or action that results in or may result in a non-accidental injury of a child. Physical abuse may involve striking the child a single time or it may involve a pattern of occurrences. Physical abuse is usually connected to physical punishment or is confused with child discipline. during the 1960s and 70s believed that physical child abuse only existed if there were injuries that required medical attention, in particular, hospitalization. Bruising, fat lips, even black eyes in our home didn't constitute abuse.As children, we were blamed for the injuries we sustained at the hands of our parents. We were told: "See what you made me do" or "I wouldn't have had to punish you so severely if you hadn't . . ." What about the laws that protect children, you ask? Yes, there were laws to protect children, but few, if any, bothered to report child abuse. Many had no idea what constituted child abuse.
Emotional abuse is the cornerstone of all the abuses because emotional abuse is always present during physical child abuse, child neglect, and sexual child abuse, and it is the only abuse that can stand on its own. It does not have to accompany any of the other abuses.Emotional child abuse is defined as the constant attack of a child or youth by an adult that negatively affects the child or youth's self-worth. It is important to note here the word 'constant'. With emotional abuse, the child/youth receives only negative messages, nothing positive