Child abuse investigation processes and professional intervention strategies

MFT Psychology of Violence; A critical Analysis of Child Abuse

A rather disturbing threat growing increasingly in today's society is child abuse. There is no agency that can appropriately and thoroughly address the issue. The development of an independent agency provided with legal mandate, appropriate material and human resources, trained to efficiently tackle legal cases of child abuse is essential. While a clear set of laws exists in relation to child molestation and abuse, physical as well as sexual abuse of children is continually on the rise; governments of many nations report astonishing annual increases in rates of child abuse cases. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reports that around 3 million kids are annually endangered or harmed due to maltreatment; this includes neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and physical abuse. Further, statistics indicate that 30% of child victims end up dying on account of disease, malnutrition, or psychological ailment (AAMFT, 2015). This paper on psychology of violence looks into child abuse based on the questions provided by the lecturer as follows:

1. What are some techniques which are thought to be appropriate for the professional to use to investigate child abuse after a child abuse report has been made by a mandated reporter? What are some obstacles which might hamper the investigation?

2. Construct a short scenario of an abuser/batterer. Describe hypothetical personal, family and behavioral traits which are common characteristics and which apply to the behaviors presented in the scenario.

3. Describe some of the factors that may lead a professional to conclude that a child has been a victim of ritualistic child abuse. How are these factors different from those that indicate physical or sexual abuse of children?

4. Compare and contrast the argument for removing a child from his or her home with the arguments for leaving the child in the home and working with the parents.

5. Why is child pornography considered a misnomer? What cultural factors contribute to child exploitation?

MFT Psychology of Violence; A critical Analysis of Child Abuse

Child abuse only constitutes a small portion of domestic violence. It is often not very easy to carry out a comprehensive and decisive analysis of this sensitive issue, which gravely impacts millions of kids across the globe. Investigators should perform an exhaustive assessment of the child abuse victim for ascertaining if injuries inflicted upon the child were deliberately done or resulted from an accident. Investigators, in sexual abuse cases, require access to, and evidence of, foreign fluid or injuries to the private parts of the child. Additionally, kids who suffer emotional abuse require a marriage and family therapist's services for assessing trauma-inflicted damage. This necessitates a proven, stipulated means, which must be conducted by CPS (Child Protective Services) -- an agency mandated to direct investigations into child abuse incidents. It is, however, vital to join forces with other departments of the government, while performing these investigations (Farley, 2014).

Hypothetical personal, family and behavioral traits

In several cases, one can find familial or personality traits common to abusive families/individuals; presence of these traits indicates a risk of child abuse. One good example is a drunken parent coming home late, waking the little child up, and maltreating him/her violently, possibly for a very trivial mistake. Some of the common traits found among such abusive parents/caregivers are violent tendencies, parenting stress, parent only being a temporary caregiver, social isolation, and general neighborhood violence. The above traits may be found in one or both parents. Other contributing elements to child abuse include poverty, leading to substance abuse. Individuals abusing or dependent on substances are inclined to ignore their responsibilities as parents, thus, causing their children to suffer. This situation is commonly observed in developing and underdeveloped nations; these nations' governments and the general community need to assume the responsibility of identifying these neglected and/or abused kids and care for them (CDC, 2015).

A series of familial risk elements eventually result in child abuse. These characteristics can be easily recognized, as they have become common place in modern society. Child abuse issues, if not tackled in a timely manner, wherever possible, can become unmanageable. Family isolation constitutes one key trait. It refers to a situation where a family entirely isolates itself from the society, cutting off all dealings with it. Clearly, this isolation is because abusive families wish to hide what happens within their household, i.e., either sexual or physical abuse of children. The latter case is more common. Abusive families typically dissociate; they are usually characterized by initial instances of violence among intimate partners; this frequently impacts the child. Poor child-parent bond and negative exchanges with neighbors or a particular peer group are other factors (CDC, 2015).

Ritualistic Abuse

This form of abuse isn't very commonly observed in modern society. Nevertheless, scores of children face ritualistic abuse, which may be described as physical, physiological, and sexual abuse occurring repetitively over an extended time period. Such abuse is mostly perpetrated in systematic cults, and religious, or familial confines. Also, pedophiles perpetrate this form of abuse. Besides physical and sexual maltreatment, ritualistic abuse goes on to further include extreme degrees of abuse extending from threats and brain-washing to violence, torture, and even animal/human sacrifice. These extreme exposures lead to long-term child traumatization; the implications can be extremely acute. Victims of these experiences suffer from long-term physical as well as psychological effects, which include uncontrollable crying, panic attacks, somatic symptoms, hyper vigilance, eating disorders, self-mutilation, suicidal ideas, etc. The effects are instantaneous and clear among children exposed to such experiences. It may be several months or even years before the victim can overcome such symptoms, which may only be understood clearly by specialists, following comprehensive analysis of related disorders (Laurel, 2015).

Factors that impact kids exposed to ritualistic abuse are significantly different from those impacting kids who experienced physical or sexual abuse. Firstly, these factors impact the child's brain. This implies that investigators cannot collect any primary proof that indicates occurrence of ritualistic abuse. In sexual abuse, evidence may be obtained via semen samples, and in physical maltreatment, old/fresh physical wounds may be visible on the abused child's body. Therefore, treating children traumatized by ritualistic abuse exposure is very difficult. Also, children abused sexually as well as physically will likely receive more timely medical attention, thereby, preventing any disease transmission to the victim (Laurel, 2015).

Child Pornography

This may be considered a form of child abuse, as it entails sexual exploitation of a child/minor. Stringent regulations govern child pornography; accused persons may receive life sentence in certain jurisdictions. Child pornography's most controversial element is misnomer, failing to express the horrifying crime's basic nature, since a majority of pornographic content portrays rape, sadistic torture, and sexual abuse of minors (i.e., children aged below 18 years). Though it may be contended by many that the crime may have involved voluntary participation on the minor's part, understanding that minors aren't wholly capable of making sound decisions by themselves is critical. This is why they have parents as caregivers, for advising and taking care of them (Kacavas, 2011).

Modern society tends to accuse modern lifestyles and technology for being responsible for child exploitation and other such social issues. It fails to realize that these issues were prevalent in olden days, as well. Some cultural factors can clearly be blamed for contributing to child exploitation in today's world. One such factor is exploiting female children as objects of monetary gain -- a practice commonly seen earlier in some Asian regions, and in Africa. This cultural practice can still be witnessed in some modern-day African societies. Whether or not the male child was exploited for monetary benefit is not very clear, however, such actions have translated into what is known today as child exploitation. While it was earlier perceived as exploitation, it is, evidently and accurately, nothing but abuse (AL-Shail, Kattan, Aldowaish, 2014).

Argument on Risks Associated with Child Abuse

Whether or not abused children must remain in the house they are maltreated, after their abuse has been confirmed by law enforcement or CPS, has long been debated. This good argument has numerous controversial facets. Firstly, law enforcement agencies or CPS needs to consider risk factors while deciding the child's fate. The basis for these risks factors is the evaluation of whether or not the abused child will;

Face further sexual abuse

Face further physical abuse

Face further emotional abuse

These only form the basis of one side of the argument. The argument's other side is also partially sound. Optimal child growth necessitates a bond with, and support of, at least one parent. Therefore, this argument is endless; both careful assessment and instincts will have to be relied on while deciding an abused child's future.

Conclusion

Abuse of children is rife in modern-day society. As was mentioned previously, established institutions fail to curb this social evil. Society should collectively put in efforts to stop it. The starting step would be with one individual (the perpetrator) changing his/her traits. As child abuse can turn into a regular occurrence and is addictive, parents' learning of how to repress violence and stress is of utmost importance (Farley, 2008).