I occasionally write on topics relating to psychology since I am a trained psychoanalyst. One of the evils which plagues us is child abuse which a psychologist had correctly called soul murder in the 1990s. This article was written to sensitize parents. And also is philosophy (of evil) in praxes

Chattopadhyay, Subhasis

English

PhilPapers

Submit News  Events  Jobs  Columnists  Just In  Videos  Classifieds  Discount CouponsChild abuse: A reality to be exposed Like 23K  Follow@merinewsSubhasis Chattopadhyay 16 February, 20145.0/5A person may have been abused himself or herself or know someone who is being abused or knowthe perpetrator well. What are the tell-tale signs of someone being abused? How can you help yourselfor someone you know had been victimized? What resources are there for you in India?First I shall indicate a few signs your kid might show is s/he is being abused:1. In FocusThe child withdraws within herself and himself (Boys are alsosexually abused).The child shows aversion/fear and disgust at certain people who are close to your family. May belast week s/he did not show such tremendous disgust; but from yesterday your child shivers even ifthat person is named. (Again the perpetrator can be both a woman or a man)The child hurts/bleeds in her/his private parts including the rectal region.The child has stopped eating.The child has begun eating too much.The child tries to avoid eye contact with you when speaking of herself/himself (This alone is of noconsequence unless some of the other factors are present).The child has recurrent nightmares. This again by itself is not indicative of abuse; only of concern.It is well understood now that most abuses occur from known people; including parents, grown upsiblings; uncles and aunts and neighbours. In short, those that the child trusts explicitly. These are theones who are often the culprits. It is also well known that if a child is abused; the trauma and thechances of later mental disorders rise in direct proportion to the time elapsed for receivingcounselling or medications.So what should be done if someone is abused? The off-the-hat answer by victims is that s/he cannot doanything since may be, the perpetrator has captured the child’s nude photographs and threatens to putthem online. Or, the child is threatened with death; or the death or grievous harm to someone the childloves dearly. Then what should one do?a. The victim should clearly understand two things: The perpetrator abuses children and not adults sinces/he is scared of adults. So no matter how scared the child is, the abuser is more scared of beingcaught. So if the victim simply goes online, say on Facebook or other social media and exposes theperpetrator along with the threats of the abuser, then the abuser is defeated. Say, I am beingthreatened that my compromised snaps will be put online by X; then I go online and post the wholething against X. Now if X is in possession of these pics then s/he will be in possession of childpornography (I am not a child by any extrapolation of the imagination); the possession of which is acriminal offense in India and most parts of the world.b. The child should tell the parents (if one of the parents is the perpetrator then the other parent andother adults should know.)c. If the abuser is a parent, then the child may think that if my dad is in jail then how will the family run?May be the father who rapes the minor son or daughter is the sole bread-winner for the family. Eventhen the child should tell all to the world and there are homes to take care of children who sufferBe the first of your friends to like thisMerinews23K likesLike PageDay | Week | Month1 Live Update: Pro Kabaddi League 2017auction2 IPL 10 Final Preview: MI V/s RPS - It dosen'tget bigger than this!3 Now a 3D map of the universe which is thelargest ever created4 Watch Video: In this dark age of Indiantelevision, Mani Shankar Aiyar leads byexamplePopular On MerinewsLifestyleToday is SinglesAppreciation Day:It's blessing to be asingleGurgaon's RyanInternational Schoolorganises flowershowAdvertisementSubmit : News                      Photos                     Just In                     Debate Topic                     Latest News                    Articles                    Local New to merinews?Lik 23K  FollowWORLD INDIA SPORTS BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY ENTERTAINMENT LIFESTYLE REVIEWS INTERVIEWS LOCAL Sign In | Register  Editorial NOTE: This article is categorized under Opinion Section. The views expressed in this article are solelythose of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of merinews.com. In case you have a opposingview, please click here to share the same in the comments section.abuse. It is better to be in some poverty till 18, than to be raped daily till 18.d. Children should be taught of what constitutes inappropriate touching.One caveat comes to mind: Child psychologists are aware that children often make up things throughcues. But in the case of child abuse, the benefit of the doubt must be given to the child and NOT to theadult.Now if you have been abused during childhood and have told none, then you are at a higher risk ofsuffering from mental problems down the line. You should do four things:1. Visit a counselor.2. Visit an MD psychiatrist.3. Get yourself tested for AIDS.4. Tell and shame the abuser in social media after being counselled and put on, if needed, minimum doseSelective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors by the MD psychiatrist.In fact you can walk in to your nearest police station anywhere in India and lodge a zero FIR. Thepolice will have to take your complaint compulsorily. In the case of child abuse the police uponreceiving a complaint even over the phone can register a diary and arrest the concerned perpetrator.Some tips to prevent child abuse:a. As a thumb rule, except the parents and grandparents et al, do not ever think your child is safe. S/he isNOT safe even in the car-pool car s/he goes in.b. S/he is not safe in the best schools of our country or anywhere in the world.c. No adult is incapable of harming our kids.d. Do not allow kids to be out of your sight, in the company with some other wo/man.e. Monitor Internet use through softwares available for this purpose.f. Avoid god (wo)men of all hues and colors. If your guru is holy, s/he will understand your need toprotect your child.g. Become a friend of your kid; so that you know with whom s/he is keeping company with.Like 23KPrevious PostToday is Singles Appreciation Day: It'sblessing to be a singleNext PostGurgaon's Ryan International Schoolorganises flower showCOMMENTS (1)Guest To earn points for your comment sign in now.NameEmail IdThe '3 Idiots' fameLeh school to revampmaths and scienceeducationChina in 1982: Thecountry had slowlystarted opening upAdvertisementContent | CJ Name | Local Listings | Topic | Weather Find Enter Keywords  In Enter City or Area  Not finding what you are looking for? Search here.Drastic situation ofChennai during..Six reasons why youshould say no to..Seven heroes whogave up their lives..Six interestingthings you mustknow..NEWS  JUST IN  OPINION  WEATHER  POTPOURRI  SPECIALS  CLOG  PHOTOSAbout UsCitizen JournalismRTI ActivistsMerinews EditorialSupport UsContact UsSignupWidgetRSSTagsInternshipFAQSitemapWE ProgramPrint VersionMobile VersionHindiTerms of UseDisclaimerPrivacy PolicyFollow, subscribe, or add us to your browser search.Follow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterSubscribe to RSS feedsAdd to browser SearchArchive : Index by Date | Index by Topics | Index by RegionVerification CodeEmail me on reply to my comment Email me when other CJs comment on this article } Sign in to set your preferenceTina AcharyaVery  informativ e!!! Excellent post!!!Hoan Kiem Lake inCentral Hanoi is amust visit fortourists to VietnamRamzan to beginfrom May 28 inJaipur, timetable forSehr and IftarannouncedWorld No TobaccoDay: WHO announcestheme, releasesposterCitizen's report saysModi regime haslittle substance toshow for people frompoor and middle classMerinews Picks 0 Replies

Child abuse: A reality to be exposed

https://philpapers.org/archive/CHACAA-15.pdf

Child abuse: A reality to be exposed

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

PhilPapers