Who Are
Abusers?
Abusers are family, friends and neighbors. As described by
the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse:
"It is a sad irony that many abusers genuinely love their
children, but they find themselves caught in life situations
beyond their control and they do not know how to cope. They
are often isolated from friends and family and may have no
one to give them emotional support. They may not like
themselves and may not know how to get their emotional needs
met" (National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse).
Child abuse happens in all socio-economic, racial, ethnic and
religious groups although it is now known that it does not occur
equally over all groups (Fryer, 1990).
What Abuse Does To Children
Children who have been physically, sexually and/or
emotionally abused not only suffer a wide range of effects from
their victimization, but are at greater risk to be abused again.
Abuse commonly produces feelings of:
- guilt
- violation
- loss of control
- lowered self-esteem.
Even those who seem to be handling their abuse are concerned
that:
- it might happen again
- they did something wrong
- future relationships might be abusive