International Journal of Research and Review Vol.7; Issue: 3; March 2020 Website: www.ijrrjournal.com Review Article E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237

Assertive Behaviour for Child Abuse

Suveesh U.S1, Shalini Peter2

1Research Scholar, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula, Uttar Pradesh, India 2Professor, Government College of Nursing, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

Corresponding Author: Suveesh U.S

ABSTRACT training, strengthen families’ income and economic security, offer high quality Children are full human beings in their own response and support services, create and right. Child maltreatment is the abuse and sustain safe environments for children, and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of implement and enforce laws against child age. It includes all types of physical and/or maltreatment. Most children are capable of emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other responding to positive communication, and exploitation, which results in actual or potential of developing to their full potential. harm to the child’s health, survival, Regardless of the type of abuse, the result is development or dignity in the context of a serious emotional harm. But there is help relationship of responsibility, trust or power. available. If a child is suffering from abuse Exposure to intimate partner violence is also or neglect, it’s important to speak out. By sometimes included as a form of child catching the problem as early as possible, maltreatment. Assertive behaviour in contrast to the child can get the help. Assertive the other possibilities of aggressive or behaviour promotes equality in human submissive/passive behaviour. The aim of relationships, enabling us to act in our own assertive behaviour is to communicate best interests, to stand up for ourselves productively with another person, achieving what is often described as a win/win outcome. without undue anxiety, to express honest feelings comfortably, to exercise personal Key words: child abuse, assertive behaviour rights without denying the rights of others.

INTRODUCTION PREVALENCE Child maltreatment has enormous  WHO reports that over 40 million immediate and long-term repercussions. children around the world suffer from Beyond death, physical injury and abuse and maltreatment disability, violence can lead to stress that  A report of child abuse is made in every impairs brain development and damages the 10 seconds nervous and immune systems. This in turn is  More than 4 children die every day as a associated with delayed cognitive result of child abuse. development, poor school performance and  More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse dropout, mental health problems, suicide victims know their perpetrator in some attempts, increased health-risk behaviours, way revictimization and the perpetration of  19.7% females and 7.9% males are violence. The good news is that child abused sexually in global wise. maltreatment can be prevented through TYPES interventions that support parents and Physical Abuse: Any non-accidental injury caregivers, promote non-violent norms and to child by deliberate application of force to values, provide education and life skills any part of the child body. Examples; Hitting, kicking, slapping, shaking, burning,

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 370 Vol.7; Issue: 3; March 2020 Suveesh U.S et.al. Assertive behaviour for child abuse pinching, hair pulling, biting, choking, Maltreated children may grow up to be throwing, shoving, whipping, paddling, maltreating adults. breaking a child’s arms or legs. Adverse childhood experiences pyramid showing how adverse childhood Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse is any sexual experiences are related to risk factors for act between an adult or older adolescent and disease, health, and social well-being. The child. When the child is being used for lifespan is represented as an arrow sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or ascending past the layers of a pyramid, another person, he is in a position of power beginning at Adverse Childhood or control over the victim. Experiences and moving through Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Impairment; Types Adoption of Health-risk Behaviors; Disease, o INCEST- any sexual activity between Disability, and Social Problems; and finally the family members Early Death. Smaller arrows depict gaps in o MOLESTATION- it includes indecent scientific knowledge about the links liberties such as touching, folding, between Adverse Childhood Experiences kissing etc. and later risk factors. o EXHIBITIONISM- it is usually exposure of the genitals by an adult male to children or female adult. o CHILD PORNOGRAPHY- sexual acts involving children alone or with adults or animals regardless of consent by the child legal guardian. o CHILD PROSTITUTION- sexual acts involving child for the profit. o PEDOPHILIA- it is a sexual attraction towards the child not a type of sexual activity.

Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse is defined as the production of psychological and social defects in the growth of a child as All types of abuse and neglect leave a result of behavior such as loud yelling, lasting scars. Some of these scars might be rude attitude, inattention, and harsh physical, but emotional scarring has long criticism of the child’s personality. lasting effects throughout life, damaging a Examples; Yelling, Screaming, Name child’s sense of self, their future calling, Shaming, Negative comparison to relationships, and ability to function at others, Ignoring, Lack of praise and positive home, work and school. reinforcement, Isolating, Rejecting, Cruelty. WARNING SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE Effects of Child Abuse AND NEGLECT Child abuse can result in immediate Warning signs of emotional abuse: adverse physical effects but it is also  Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or strongly associated anxious about doing something wrong with developmental problem and with many  Shows extremes in behaviour (extremely chronic physical and psychological effects, compliant, demanding, passive, including subsequent ill-health, including aggressive) higher rates of chronic conditions, high-risk  Doesn’t seem to be attached to the health behaviours and shortened lifespan. parent or caregiver

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 371 Vol.7; Issue: 3; March 2020 Suveesh U.S et.al. Assertive behaviour for child abuse

 Acts either inappropriately adult (taking children to compromise, or to express care of other children) or inappropriately their feelings in a productive way. infantile (thumb-sucking, throwing  Teach children to seek help when tantrums) confronted by the abuse of power Warning signs of physical abuse: (physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other)  Frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, by other children or adults. welts, or cuts  Remind children to ignore routine  Is always watchful and “on alert,” as if teasing by turning their heads or walking waiting for something bad to happen away. Not all provocative behavior must  Injuries appear to have a pattern such as be acknowledged. marks from a hand or belt  Teach children to ask for things directly  Shies away from touch, flinches at and respond directly to each other. sudden movements, or seems afraid to Friendly suggestions are taken more go home readily than bossy demands. Teach  Wears inappropriate clothing to cover children to ask nicely, and to respond up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts appropriately to polite requests. on hot days  After a conflict between children, ask Warning signs of child neglect: those involved to replay the scene. Show  Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or children how to resolve problems firmly inappropriate for the weather and fairly.  Hygiene is consistently bad (unbathed,  Show children how to tell bullies to stop matted and unwashed hair, noticeable hurtful acts and to stand up for body odor) themselves when they are being treated  Untreated illnesses and physical injuries unfairly.  Is frequently unsupervised or left alone  Encourage children not to give up or allowed to play in unsafe situations objects or territory to bullies (e.g., say,  Is frequently late or missing from school "I'm using this toy now"). Preventing Warning signs of sexual abuse in bullies from getting what they want will children: discourage aggressive behavior.  Trouble walking or sitting  Identify acts of aggression, bossiness, or  Displays knowledge of sexual acts discrimination for children and teach inappropriate for their age, or even them not to accept them (e.g., say, "Girls seductive behavior are allowed to play that, too").  Makes strong efforts to avoid a specific person, without an obvious reason ASSERTIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR  Doesn’t want to change clothes in front CHILD ABUSE of others or participate in physical  Decide if the situation is safe- children activities should not try to handle situations that  An STD or pregnancy, especially under are not safe. Unsafe situations are the age of 14 isolated place with no other children or  Runs away from home adults around, when the teasers are too ASSERTIVENESS SKILLS big or older, when teasing involves  Demonstrate assertive behavior (e.g., pushing and threats and teasing occurs saying "No" to another child's over and over. In these cases children unacceptable demands) and contrast need to get help and report what is aggressive or submissive responses happening to them to an adult as soon as through demonstrations. Let children possible. role-play with puppets or dolls.  Stay calm- it is important that teaser  Intervene when interactions seem should not see that the child is upset and headed for trouble and suggest ways for

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 372 Vol.7; Issue: 3; March 2020 Suveesh U.S et.al. Assertive behaviour for child abuse

scared. Control of emotions should be wrong and inform to mother. No one there. else should touch your private parts. If  Relaxation–deep breathing or counting someone tries to do that it is wrong and backwards is main relaxation inform to mother. techniques. Practice the techniques daily . No need to see any unwanted pictures to use easily in needed situations. and videos in magazines and phones  Body language- stands tall, looking shown by others. directly at the other person, tightening . Say ‘no’ to others who try to touch your the jaw and arms, relaxing the rest of the body unnecessarily and inform to body. responsible person.  Avoid the teaser- go in a different way, . Tell them to obey the older people for stay near other children or adults good things, otherwise reject them.  Shrug – a quick technique is to shrug . Should not get any favour from your shoulders and walk away. strangers, e.g.: sweet , dress, books,  Ignore the teasing- anger and tears letters exacerbate the abuse. Child should not . Don’t get feared if somebody threatened react to the teaser and should have you by telling I will kill your parents, control over emotions. siblings etc. if you inform to anybody  Self-talk- Silent pep talk like; I don’t what happened. Keep silence if not able like this, but I can handle this. I have lot to react and inform to responsible one of strengths. when you are alone. . Should have your own privacy in  Positive thinking- children have the power inside themselves to react when bathing and dressing. . someone come to abuse them. The If you are not able to explain to your children should decide whether the mother about what had happened just person should win by seeing the child write it in a paper and give it to them. upset. Think that the abuser has no power over them. CONCLUSION Children are included in the most  Leave assertively- say like ‘I am vulnerable group, but their rights throughout leaving’, ‘I have more important things the world are target ignored often resulting to do’, ‘go pick on someone else’ and into target outcomes. It is because of the walk away. vulnerability rendered to the children from

 One assertive statement- you can’t talk infancy to childhood. Adults are the to me like that, I don’t have to listen to responsible persons to safe guard the this, quit bugging me. children from all maltreatments. But it is  Ask for help- if the teasing is out of very dangerous that the children are control and tell an adult as soon as suffering most of the misbehaviours from possible. the adult personalities including parents,  Sharing – if any type of abuse occurs relatives, neighbours, friends, teachers and don’t try to hide them. First thing is to strangers. Child abuse is a common crisis explain to the parents or to any well- that occurs all over the world in every known person whom you can believe. religion and social classes. It includes physical, emotional and sexual abuses. To PREVENTING ABUSES prevent this type of maltreatments . Teach the child to Ask his/her parents assertiveness is the main weapon for the especially mother about the doubts children. regarding body parts. . No one else should touch your private parts. If someone tries to do that it is

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 373 Vol.7; Issue: 3; March 2020 Suveesh U.S et.al. Assertive behaviour for child abuse

REFERENCE India. 1. Melinda Smith, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.46433%=8grdgov/ and Jeanne Segal(2019) pubmed/16454=18548. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/ch 4. WHO Child abuse report. (2017). ild-abuse-and-neglect.htm http://fxdfgh.statistics.6446%vcvjk 2. Baldwin N Taylor. (2010). The Mental 5. UNICEF Child Abuse Report. (2017). Health and Medically Unexplained Physical www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 16520560 Symptoms of Adult Survivors of Abused and Non Abused Adult Survivors. How to cite this article: Suveesh US, Peter S. http://www.physicalsymptomsofabusedvicti Assertive behaviour for child abuse. ms./index.php/457273=etefgS International Journal of Research and Review. 3. Benjamin J. (2011). The Life Time and 12 2020; 7(3): 370-374. Month Prevalence of Physical, Psychological and Sexual Abuse in

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International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 374 Vol.7; Issue: 3; March 2020