The Collective Consequences Of Childhood Abuse And Spanking

Child abuse is a complex, surreptitious social problem that has been around for as long as humanity itself. The collective consequences of childhood abuse and spanking can be detrimental and are reflected in addictive behaviors, dysfunctional family dynamics and mental health problems in general. Can the commonly used practice of corporal punishment and spanking be justified as an appropriate method to discipline children? Coming up with an ultimate definition of what child abuse/neglect constitutes appears to be an ongoing challenge. There are different definitions of what constitutes child abuse and those differ by various professions. The nonexistence of a universally acknowledged definition of what child abuse actually is creates a†¦show more content†¦In this case, unnecessarily labeling/ falsely accusing a parent of abuse might actually increase chances for abuse to happen. Once the label is applied, regardless of whether it is true or not, and the individual accepts t he stigma as a part of his identity chances for the person to actually â€Å" fit the label he was given† increases significantly. People who accept the label have a negative self-image, a higher chance to reject themselves and are consequently a greater risk to be inadequate parents.(Cicchetti Calrson, 1991) . In contrast to the psychiatric model, the social approach has its focus on the interactions that take place between the family and society. Here, the emphasis is put on the interaction between the family and the society, which exerts pressure. The defect does not lay in the individual, but is within the system. The stress that society places on the family increases tension which can leave the family vulnerable to dysfunction. Frequent stress causes friction such as financial problems and a socially isolated life.(Cicchetti Calrson, 1991) . The Control Theory of Delinquency suggests that delinquent acts are a product of a disconnection between the individual and the society. The lack of social support that places parents into a high risk category for abuse is a broken bond between the individual and the