Child abuse or maltreatment

It is a manifestation of violence, taking advantage of the difference in strength (physical, mental, economic) between an adult and a child, intentionally causing physical/psychic damage to him and the consequences of which are actual or potential damage to the child's health, survival, development or his dignity, in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

1. Neglect - involves depriving the child of satisfying his biological, emotional and psychological development needs.

Consequences: attitude of indifference or shyness, inability to organize one's activity freely, is not curious, has attention disorders, low resistance to frustration, somatizes easily, is not willing to make cognitive effort, has no level of long-term aspirations . Establishes fragile interpersonal contacts, has adaptation difficulties, commits antisocial acts (individually or in a group) with drug use, running away from home, absenteeism, deficient acquisition of ethical and moral norms.

2. Physical abuse - represents the action (single or repeated) on the part of an adult in a position of responsibility, power or trust that results in actual or potential physical injury.

Consequences: feelings of inferiority that persist into adulthood, difficult communication, violence is a way of exchange as an interpersonal attachment and is perceived by the child as a sign of the adult's interest in him. The child victim does not recognize the mistreatment and does not denounce it, may also refuse to separate from the aggressor adult, later becoming an adult with masochistic attitudes.

3. Emotional abuse - is a behavior committed intentionally by an adult without affection who offends, ridicules, devalues, unfairly or verbally humiliates the child in significant moments or repeatedly, affecting, in this way, his development and emotional balance.

Consequences: delay in the development of the sense of self, emotional maturity and the development of empathic capacity. Running away from home, antisocial acts, lasting adaptation difficulties, repeated in a new environment, lack of initiative, creativity and autonomy, separation anxiety, including in adulthood.

4. Sexual abuse - represents the involvement of a child in a sexual activity that he does not understand, for which he does not have the capacity to give his informed consent, for which he is not prepared from the point of view of development or which violates the laws or social taboos.

Consequences: introversion, emotional disorders, depression, poor self-esteem, running away from home, school failure, prostitution, drug/alcohol use.