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Psychological Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Psychological Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect
Freddy Cabrera
General Psychology 1012

4 April 2012
Florida National College

Abstract
Child abuse and neglect is a growing issue that threatens the health of its victims not only physically but psychologically as well. Some of these psychological effects include difficulties during infancy, poor mental and emotional health, cognitive difficulties, and social difficulties.

Psychological Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect

The year is 2012 and in this day in age, society is still faced with issues such as child abuse and neglect. “An estimated 905,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). Child abuse and neglect is a growing dilemma not only in the United States but also worldwide. Child abuse and neglect is an issue that must be studied to see the significant effects it has on its victims. These effects can be great, the most prominent being physical, psychological, and societal consequences. The following will focus on the psychological effects, and these can be summarized with difficulties during infancy, poor mental and emotional health, cognitive difficulties, and social difficulties. When taking a look at child abuse and neglect one must start at the earliest point in which such can occur. This first point is infancy. During infancy, the child is most vulnerable due to its dependency on the mother and those surrounding the child. During this stage, infants require for their basic needs to be met. As an infant, many things can fall under child abuse and neglect, some of which include, as described by Waldman, Cannella, and Perlman;
“Child abuse can take many forms:
-Neglect, in which the responsible adult fails to adequately provide for various needs, including physical, emotional, and

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