Child Abuse And Animal Cruelty

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Child Abuse and Animal Cruelty Heather De Leur PSY 315/Statistical Reasoning in Psychology September 5, 2011 Dr. Mesha Mathis Child Abuse and Animal Cruelty Children who suffer abuse at the hands of an adult, who may be a parental figure or an adult important in the child’s life may show signs of his or her neglect. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services children of abuse may have a sudden change in behavior such as altering their personality from happy and outgoing to withdrawn and sullen. They may show physical signs of abuse such as bruises or broken bones. They may develop leaning problems and have a difficulty in focusing while in school. They may have a pessimistic view of world that they freely express. They may also be unwilling to go home, church, or school depending on where the abuse in happening or who is responsible for the abuse. The abuse may be emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual. The child may feel as if he or she has no control in his or her life. Some abuse victims may seek help in another adult or a form of child protective service. Some abuse victims may look to reassert control in their lives by lashing out at a victim smaller and weaker than they perceive themselves to be, animals. Duncan, Thomas, and Miller (2005) suggest “that physical child abuse, sexual child abuse, paternal alcoholism, paternal unavailability, and domestic violence may be significant in development of childhood animal cruelty” (p. 235). The team’s hypothesis is a percentage of these abused and neglected children will turn to abusing small animals as a means of exerting control over their lives. This abuse can develop into further violence as they grow older. They may turn their violence on family members, neighbors, fellow peers, such as other students or work mates. An even smaller percentage may become serial killers.

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