Saint Michael College of Caraga

Nasipit, Agusan del Norte

College Department
Social Philosophy

Child Abuse:
A case study on the
Psychological/Emotional
Exploitation of Children

by
Joseph Earven C. Valdesimo
Joshua S. Fedelis

February 2015

INTRODUCTION

Children by their innocence makes them vulnerable to this big world. They may be exposed to
the unfairness and unjustness of this world at a young age, which may result to a burden they
will bear throughout their lifetime. According to Jade Mazarin, a psychotherapist in private
practice with an MA in counseling and a Board Certification in Christian Counseling, also a
freelance writer on mental health topics and spirituality, every ten seconds a report is made about
a child being abused, and about four children die every year as a result of abuse. Imagine how
vulnerable our children of today. They are being exploited as each day pass. Republic Act. 7610,
an act providing for stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse, exploitation
and discrimination, and for other purposes. Article I, Section 2, It is hereby declared to be the
policy of the State to provide special protection to children from all firms of abuse, neglect,
cruelty exploitation and discrimination and other conditions, prejudicial their development;
provide sanctions for their commission and carry out a program for prevention and deterrence of
and crisis intervention in situations of child abuse, exploitation and discrimination. The State
shall intervene on behalf of the child when the parent, guardian, teacher or person having care or
custody of the child fails or is unable to protect the child against abuse, exploitation and
discrimination or when such acts against the child are committed by the said parent, guardian,
teacher or person having care and custody of the same. It shall be the policy of the State to
protect and rehabilitate children gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect
or will affect their survival and normal development and over which they have no control. The
best interests of children shall be the paramount consideration in all actions concerning them,
whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative
authorities, and legislative bodies, consistent with the principle of First Call for Children as
enunciated in the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Every effort shall be
exerted to promote the welfare of children and enhance their opportunities for a useful and happy
life. So, it is a duty of parents to protect their children from any exploitation.
And regarding this matter, a case study was conducted to expose the real situation of an
individual who have experienced being psychologically/emotionally abused. A case related to
psychological/emotional abuse is presented in this case study. This case shows the different faces
of psychological/emotional abused to children. In this case study we will be able to learn what is
psychological/emotional abuse, its signs and symptoms, and how it is inflicted to child unwarily.
We may think that it is discipline but we did not realize their emotional stability as a child.
Institutions includes the church, schools, the community, government, the media, civil society,
and of course, the family should be the ones who shall promote a well and safe from any verbal
discrimination from the child. Family, the first institution a child have, crucial stage of molding a
child starts from it. This is where a child learns to view the world and how he will face the daily
life of struggle from the vulnerability of being abused. Family should be the first to promote a
safe and secure environment from the child. According to a survey conducted by Statistically
Speaking, a website manage by NSCB, they reported that non-random surveys of different
groups, including professionals, government employees, private sector employees, members of

the military, and the low income group showed that the family is the most important source of
happiness among Pinoys. The family is therefore pivotal in the functioning of our society and it
is crucial that the family be protected and preserved as a social institution that lays the
foundation for our well-being especially those of our children. But the sad thing is many stories
of child exploitation through verbal discrimination have existed. Does this mean that the family
of today is weakened? Does our parents too busy for work than to manage their own children at
home? Physical pain is can heal but emotional pain takes time to be cured. We should involve
ourselves in spreading the awareness of this child-abuses. The researchers are glad to present this
case study for they know that this will help many parents, teachers, and other individuals that is
concern with this matter to be fully aware of the problems a child may experience as he go along
with his daily living.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Case 1
A student is crying in class. You call her over and ask what is wrong. She said that the police
came out to her house last night and arrested her dad after he and mom had a fight in the
students room. She said that her dad had been drinking and mom had been hiding from him in
the students room. She went on to say that dad broke down the door to her bedroom, came in
and started slapping and punching mom in the face. The student reports that she called 911 on
moms cell phone during the struggle.

Problem:
1. Is the student right in his choice to report his father?
2. Does the incident affect her, even though his not the victim of his fathers rage?
3. How will the students overcome this struggle?

Case 2
Latoya is quiet and shy child. Lately she has been talking even less. One day she was in the
housekeeping area when a cup was accidentally broken by one of the children. Latoya started
crying. When you asked what was wrong she told you it reminded her of when she broke her
dads favorite cup one time. She said now her dad tells her every morning, when she is eating

breakfast that he doesnt want her around anymore because she is bad and is too much trouble.
When you ask if Dad hurts her she says no.

Problem:
1. What is the difference of the 2nd case to the 1st case?
2. Would you call the attention of Layotas parents?
3. What are the things that Layota should undergone to overcome this struggle?
CASE ANALYSIS
Psychological/Emotional Abuse
When a parent or caregiver harms a childs mental and social development, or causes
severe emotional harm. Psychological/Emotional abuse is defined as the production of
psychological and social defects in the growth of a child as a result of behavior such as
loud yelling, coarse and rude attitude, inattention, harsh criticism, and denigration of the
child's personality.

Emotional abuse can include:

Rejecting or ignoring: telling a child he or she is unwanted or unloved, showing little
interest in child, not initiating or returning affection, not listening to the child, not
validating the childs feelings, breaking promises, cutting child off in conversation

Shaming or humiliating: calling a child names, criticizing, belittling, demeaning,

berating, mocking, using language or taking action that takes aim at childs feelings of
self-worth

Terrorizing: accusing, blaming, insulting, punishing with or threatening abandonment,

harm or death, setting a child up for failure, manipulating, taking advantage of a childs
weakness or reliance on adults, slandering; screaming; yelling

Isolating: Keeping child from peers and positive activities, confining child to small area,
forbidding play or other stimulating experiences

Corrupting: Engaging child in criminal acts, telling lies to justify actions or ideas,
encouraging misbehavior

Signs of Emotional Abuse in parent or caregiver:

Plays favorites with one sibling over another

Poor anger management or emotional self-regulation

Stormy relationships with other adults, disrespect for authority

History of violence or abuse

Untreated mental illness, alcoholism or substance abuse

Signs of Emotional Abuse in a child:
Physical:

Delays in development

Speech disorders

Health problems like ulcers, skin disorders

Obesity and weight fluctuation

Behavioral:

Habits like sucking, biting, rocking

Learning disabilities and developmental delays

Overly compliant or defensive

Extreme emotions, aggression, withdrawal

Anxieties, phobias, sleep disorders

Destructive or anti-social behaviors (violence, cruelty, vandalism, stealing, cheating,

lying)

Behavior that is inappropriate for age (too adult, too infantile)

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Overt Emotional Abuse

Abuse that occurs that is overt and clear. One partner puts down the other with names
such as stupid, inadequate or crazy or there is an open threat of harm.

 Covert Emotional Abuse

Abuse that is subtle, covert and hard to detect on the surface. For example, a boyfriend
constantly interrupts his girlfriend, making her feel as though her thoughts, ideas and
feelings are not important. He constantly questions her abilities, until she begins to
question them too. He excludes her from things that are going on within his own life over
a period of time and makes her feel isolated.

Case 1

1. Is the student right in his choice to report his father?

-Yes, it is right. Seeing an incident such, though family matters, doesnt excuse an
individual to be punished by the law. Violence against women and children
punishable by law. The mere fact that it involves physical contact.
2. Does the incident affect her, even though she is not the victim of his fathers
rage?
- the fact that this student saw the violence occur in front of her crosses the line to
emotional abuse and requires a mandated reporter to act. While the father is clearly
the aggressor in this scenario, the mothers behavior can be considered emotionally
abusive too. She could have locked herself in the childs room to protect herself and
the child, but the decision placed the child at emotional risk.

3. How will the student overcome this struggle?

- Parentchild interaction therapy was designed to improve the child-parent
relationship following the experience of domestic violence. It targets trauma-related
symptoms in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. In this parent-child interaction, the
mother will be given the chance to explain what had happened. Through this, the
child will gradually understand how such violence occurs.

Case 2
1. What is the difference of the 2nd case to the 1st case?
The difference between the two cases is:
-In the first case, the abused was indirectly inflicted to the victim. The victim saw the
violence from her parents that results to trauma. And, the trauma results to the
psychological/emotional that distracts the students self-being. The experience in this
case is passive.
-On the second case, the victim is the one that encounters first-hand experience to the
verbal abuse. She was directly being scolded and rejected by her parents. And this
kind of experience is such a painful one for the victim.
2. How this problem can be resolved?
-Through counseling, this problem can be resolved. By informing the parents of
Layota what are the consequences of what they have done to their child. I believe
theres no parents that aims for the disturbance of their children. Proper counseling is
the key to help the parents understand what their children is struggling.
3. What are the things that Layota should undergone to overcome this struggle?
-Other forms of treatment include group therapy, play therapy, and art therapy. Each
of these types of treatment can be used to better assist the client, depending on the
form of abuse they have experienced. Play therapy and art therapy are ways to get
children more comfortable with therapy by working on something that they enjoy
(coloring, drawing, painting, etc.). The design of a child's artwork can be a symbolic
representation of what they are feeling, relationships with friends or family, and more.
Being able to discuss and analyze a child's artwork can allow a professional to get a
better insight of the child.
Daily communication of Layotas parents to her will also help her gain back the selfimportance of Layota to herself.

RECOMMENDATION
The researchers recommends this study to:

All parents/guardians, so that they may be fully inform about the forms of child
abuse and be able to realize the limitations of disciplining their child and be
responsible to every act they move that might consider as deprivation of
childrens rights;

All teachers; that they may able to help those abused children; whether it is
physical or emotional, in treating the pains every child undergoes. So that they
may also understand the concept of depriving childs rights;

The school, so that they may also interfere and provide counseling to those
students who needs the help of this institution.

The church, so that they may promote responsible parenthood to every family and
prevent this abuse to every child in the society; and

The government, that they may enhanced the existing programs that caters that
needs of every child in the society;

CONCLUSION

Psychological/emotional abuse refers to the production of psychological and social

defects in the growth of a child as a result of behavior such as loud yelling, coarse and
rude attitude, inattention, harsh criticism, and denigration of the child's personality.
Through this abuse, a child may lose self-esteem and self-importance. He may not be able
to perform correctly his task because of fear to failed and be criticized.
This creates barriers to childs ability to improve himself. Each sectors of the society
should contribute to help every child, free from any violence and deprivation of their
rights. How can we give these children a good future if at present, we are violating their
own rights. A childs experience of being abused may be compared to scar, it may be
healed but the mark of emotional/psychological pain it brought will always be there.
Emotional abuse is so much worse than physical abuse. A bruise heals. The inside takes
longer.

REFERENCE

http://education-portal.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse#Types

http://www.asca.org.au/

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/061306_rav_children.asp

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2008/061008_rav_children.asp

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2008/081408_rav_typhoons.asp

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2008/090808_rav_wedc.asp

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2009/121409_rav_joe_children.asp

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2010/110810_rav_joe_happiness.as
p

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2011/071111_rav.asp#tab9

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2011/091211.asp

http://www.safehorizon.org/

http://www.un.org/

https://www.childhelp.org/

http://www.cobbk12.org/childabusereport/emotional-abuse-2.html