What is Abuse?
PHYSICAL ABUSE: Any touch not given in love, respect or dignity. EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Any communication, admonition, reprimand or reproof that does not uplift, edify, or bring conflict resolution. There are 16 forms of abuse. Abuse is not just physical. All forms of abuse are devastating and destroy the individuals and the relationships. Some forms of abuse are so subtle that people accept them as a part of their every day life. Do you recognize any of the following? – Not allowing a person to have privacy. – Threatening to end a relationship. – Uses children to pass messages back and forth, ie., “Tell your mother I said…” – No communication, instead keeps you guessing.” – If you share a secret it may be used against you. Have you ever heard, ‘If you really love me, you would…
Abuse is defined by statute as the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members: (a) attempting to cause or causing physical harm; (b) placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm; (c) causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress. G.L. c. 209A, 1.
Abuse includes one or more incidents of physical or sexual violence; controlling behaviour; or intentional destruction of or intentional injury to property; or words, actions or gestures that threaten an individual or lead an individual to fear for his or her safety.Abuse is done by any of the following persons against an individual: The individual’s spouse, parent, child or other relative; a person who is sponsoring the individual as an immigrant; or a person on whom the individual is emotionally, physically or financially dependent.The definition of abuse has been expanded to provide the context of domestic violence focusing on abuse within an abusive relationship.
Abuse is an intentional act against a child that causes bodily or emotional harm. It is an act of commission (see also neglect). Generally, abuse is categorized into three main areas: Physical Abuse: The non-accidental injury to a child. Sexual Abuse: Any act of a sexual nature upon or with a child. The act may be for the sexual gratification of the perpetrator or a third party. This would include the active participant and anyone who allowed or encouraged the act. Emotional Abuse: Continual attitude or acts that interfere with the psychological or social development of a child. Each of us is guilty of having unkindly snubbed a child or having judged too harshly, but emotional abuse is marked by its repetitive, chronic nature. Also, children exposed to episodes of Domestic Violence are enduring this kind of abuse.
