2.4: Who Is Susceptible?

Who is Susceptible?

What puts a child at risk for abuse? Parents and others who suffer from the circumstances described above are the first trigger. In the children’s bureau statistics from 2007 (Children’s Bureau, 2007) indicate that nearly 37% of children abused are between birth and four years of age. 23% are between four and seven years of age, and 10% between the ages of eight and 11 years old. From these statistics, we can ascertain that the younger a child is the more likely they are to be abused. If you think about it, this makes sense. As children become older, they are able to care for themselves more and develop coping and survival instincts to adapt to the situation in which they live. Young children are also not able to verbalize or tell others about their abuse. They may not be as likely to be seen by others if they are isolated at home and not in school. Infants are fairly helpless as victims of those who are not able to adapt to the situation in which they live. Young children are also not able to verbalize or tell others about their abuse. They may not be as likely to be seen by others if they are isolated at home and not in school. Infants and toddlers are also helpless as victims of those who are supposed to be caring for them. Younger children may not know any better and think that the abuse is normal. As they grow older and are exposed to others, children learn that not everyone lives in that way. They are also exposed to other adults at school, etc., who may recognize the symptoms of abuse and report the incidents to CPS.

Unfortunately, children are at their most vulnerable to abuse when attachment should be forming. Children who are neglected or abused do not form attachment and may suffer from developing attachment disorder. Children who have not been able to bond adequately with their parents or other caregivers are at a very high risk of developing Reactive Attachment Disorder. Children who resist being held, are colicky, have certain disabilities or health problems, are difficult to feed due to allergies or other issues, or otherwise present an unusual challenge, are more susceptible to being abused. The reason for this is simple; these issues cause parents more stress. And if there is an advantage to any of these situations, it is that children who are abused or neglected develop resiliency and are later in life able to survive many things where others may not.

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Abuse is not usually a one-time occurrence. When a child has been abused or neglected, s/he behaves differently around others than children who have not suffered in this way. Abused and neglected children become hyper vigilant, with increased alertness to those around them and everything that happens in the environment. Usually, these children do not expect to be comforted by parents or others but may constantly search for and hoard food and other tangible items that may provide them self-comfort. Children who are abused and neglected often can depend only upon themselves and therefore show signs of attachment issues. Their social and motor development may be delayed, they may not relate well with others, and they have an increased desire or need to know everything that will happen, exactly when, how and where. Children who have been abused have very little self-confidence and may appear withdrawn from others. They have a need to attempt to control everything in their life, including other people, because then they at least know what will happen. As mentioned earlier, these children have an unusual ability to adapt and survive. They may be very scared to fail, because of what that may mean for them at home. Abused children often regress and withdraw into themselves as a way of self-protection and defense when they fear a change or uncertain situation. These children are not seen as attractive to hang out with by others, and do not form peer relationships easily. They have not learned the give-and-take of relationships with others, do not trust others, and are not seen as desirable friends. This leads to additional isolation. As these children become adolescents they often run away or wander aimlessly; this increases their susceptibility as bait for pimps and drug dealers. Drugs and sex eventually dull the mind and heighten their fantasy world, and the abused child becomes a victim again.

"Depressed" by Sander van der Wel is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.