Child Abuse: An Epidemic in Our Society

CHILD ABUSE: AN EPIDEMIC IN OUR SOCIETY

CHERYIAL GEUIN

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

Part I

There are many problems in our society today that are not always easily detected. Although these problems may be terrible, thy are still for different reasons, difficult to identify. Because these problems are hard to identify criminals can commit these crimes multiple times. Of these types of offenses, child molestation is the number one crime.

How do we define “molestation” when we discuss this offense against children? This could be defined in the terms of treating a person with cruelty or violence, especially when it occurs on a regular basis and repeatedly.

Child molestation is defined as “physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child.” (Oxford Dictionary online). Child molestation may also be defined as a “crime of inflicted physical or emotional injury on a child. And the term can denote the use of inordinate physical violence or verbal abuse: the failure to furnish proper shelter, nourishment, medical treatment, or emotional support, all the while, forcing the child to engage in illicit behavior with an adult against their will. (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Encyclopedia 2000)

When we look at this criminal behavior we can see that this is a hidden epidemic against our children that they have been suffering nationwide for decades. We see that statistics show that since 1995 the number of deaths that have been caused due to child molestation has been growing in record high numbers. It is true that all children have rough roads that they must travel before they will see adulthood, as well as, they are faced with dangerous thins in their surrounding environments every day. These things may seriously affect them through their lives both mentally and emotionally, however, nothing will scar or damage them to the extent that the child who has been molested will deal with. “In 2005 alone, among 3.6 million investigations by Child Protective Services agencies in the U.S., an estimated 899,000 children (24.97%) were confirmed to be victims of child molestation.” (Childhelp 2009)

“Based on the report from the Department of Health and Human services, in 2006, approximately 82.4% of child molestation cases were made by at least one of the child’s parents or close family member or friend. (Childhelp 2009) This report also had a staggering finding that a child that is disabled or that suffers from a disability had a probability of 3.5 times higher for being molested than a normal child. (Childhelp 2009)

General statistics states that a report of child molestation is made every 10 seconds, and more than 3 out of 4 are under the age of 8. It is estimated that 60 to 85% of children which die from severe molestation but that it is not recorded on death certificates. Also we find that 90% of children who are being molested know the perpetrator in some way. The sad static is that we see that 40% of children that suffer from molestation in their childhood will one day be child molesters themselves. Also 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers reported that they were molested as children. (Childhelp 2009)

It is hard sometimes to know when this type of abuse is happening to a child. However, we find that sexual abuse can result in physical or behavioral manifestations. Many signs many be similar to physical abuse, however, some are much more prominent. When we see a child that refuses to eat, that detonates great fear at being left alone, seems to be distracted or distant to their surroundings, we should view these as flags that could be pointing to a deeper issue of sexual molestation. Also, we see that some children are prone to act out certain sexual behaviors towards others.

See find that in toddlers who are suffering under these circumstances the signs could be drastically different. We find that this is mainly since young children have communication barriers that they do not have the skills to overcome. We may see toddlers that have already been potty trained began wetting their pants again, they may become overly aggressively clingy, as well as, fearful. It has been noted that toddlers may often fear someone with the same similarities of the person who is molesting them. (Office of Child Abuse and Neglect, Children’s Bureau.)

Who is more likely to be abused or neglected is the question that most of society might ask. We find that no group of children is immune from being a victim of child abuse although girls are more often the victims of sexual abuse than boys. For all other types of abuse and neglect, statistics are about equal for boys and girls.

According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, children of all races and ethnicities can be victims of child molestation. In 2012, nearly one-half of all victims of child sexual abuse were White (44%), one-fifth (21%) were African-American, and one-fifth (21.8%) were Hispanic. Although children of all ages experience sexual abuse, it is the youngest children that are the most vulnerable, with almost 27% of the victims of child abuse and neglect being under the age of three years.

PART II

The first theory we will look at will be the evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory, promulgated by Ellis (2003, 2004, 2005), was proposed to explain the perpetration of criminal acts that harm other individuals. According to this theory, males sex hormones, primarily testosterone, promotes competitive behaviors—often behaviors that involve harming or victimizing another person. Specifically, when testosterone levels rise, the distribution of neural activation increases the incidence of competitive, and often criminal, behaviors. These behaviors evolved, especially in males, to enhance their capacity to acquire resources, which ultimately augments their ability to attract mates. One of the principal implications of this theory is that any physical or psychological feature that reflects elevated levels of testosterone, such as a deep voice, will tend to predict criminal behavior (Ellis, Das, & Buker, 2008).

According to Ellis, Das, and Buker (2008), testosterone shapes many features of the body. Individuals with elevated levels of testosterone, whether male or female, or more inclined to demonstrate many masculine features: hairy bodies, physical strength, and a deep voice, by widening the larynx for example. As a consequence, the evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory assumes that individuals who demonstrate these features will engage in more violent and criminal acts. Consistent with this premise, in a sample of over 11,000 college students, hairy bodies, physical strength, strength of sex drive, and a deep voice were correlated with self-reports of various criminal offences. Furthermore, in males, penis size, which coincides with levels of testosterone, was also related to criminality.