Psychological effects of physically abused children Child abuse is an unresolved problem in the United States and globally.

As a child, our brains need molding in learning how to become a respectable adult. The molding is the responsibility of our parents. Their job is to raise us, to teach us what is right from wrong, and to nurture and care for us. Although parenting is a job with no specific instructions, it is a job that makes us humans rely on our instincts and perhaps follow the techniques our own parents used in raising us. Sure, there are a number of books with suggestions, tips, and ideas on how to successfully raise a child, but when it comes down to it, parenting doesnt come with an instruction manual. Many people had the misfortune of being raised in a home where parents embedded child maltreatment as an everyday technique in how they communicate with their child. Most of these parents dont know of the psychological effects that manifest with their children long after their visible wounds have healed. Most of these children grow up with misconceptions on how a family dynamic should be as well as misconceptions on how to interact within relationships. Child abuse is characteristically defined as any nonaccidental physical injury to a child caused by a parent or caretaker, whereas child neglect is a failure to meet parental obligations with regard to food, clothing, shelter, supervision, shelter, education, or medical care that endangers the childs physical or psychological health (Barnett, MillerPerrin, & Perrin, 2005). The way an abused child interacts with their abusing parent is different from the way a non-abused child interacts with their non-abusive parent. The difference can be seen in terms of how often they laugh, how blatantly they counterattack their parents commands, or divert their gaze. In the article, Comparing Physically Abused, Neglected, and Nonmaltreated Children During Interactions with their Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies, three groups of children are being analyzed with their communication skills. The first group is the physically abused children, the second group is the neglected children, and the third group is the nonmaltreated children. These studies included three different categories of communication. The first category was how they communicated affection also termed positive behavior, the second was frustration and/or resistance also termed aversive behavior, and third interest or involvement with the parent also termed involvement. Each category had specific actions and behaviors assigned. When the child made such behaviors, the analysts would determine which category each child fit into. These observations were made either in the families home, laboratory or treatment facilities, and daycares. After conducting the research and analyzing their studies, they found that maltreated children do display different rates of positive and aversive behavior, as well as behavior displaying involvement than nonmaltreated children during interactions with their parents. When data are accumulated across studies, the overall mean weighed effective sizes are roughly what the analysts labeled as medium for positive behaviors and also for involvement, and fall between small or medium for aversive behavior. These observed differences may the result of abuse or neglect,