Many people have difficulty understanding why any person would hurt a child. The public often assumes that people
who abuse their children suffer from mental disorders, but fewer than 10 percent of abusers have mental illnesses.
Most abusers love their children but tend to have less patience and less mature personalities than other parents.
These traits make it difficult to cope with the demands of their children and increase the likelihood of physical or
emotional abuse.
However, there is no single explanation for child maltreatment. Child abuse results from a complex combination of
personal, social, and cultural factors. These may be grouped into four primary categories: (1) intergenerational
transmission of violence , (2) social stress , (3) social isolation and low community involvement , and (4) family
structure .
(1) Intergenerational Transmission of Violence
Many children learn violent behavior from their parents and then grow up to abuse their own children. Thus, the
abusive behavior is transmitted across generations. Studies show that some 30 percent of abused children become
abusive parents, whereas only 2 to 3 percent of all individuals become abusive parents. Children who experience
abuse and violence may adopt this behavior as a model for their own parenting.
However, the majority of abused children do not become abusive adults. Some experts believe that an important
predictor of later abuse is whether the child realizes that the behavior was wrong. Children who believe they behaved
badly and deserved the abuse become abusive parents more often than children who believe their parents were
wrong to abuse them.
take, when to have children, and how much money to spend on food and housinghave higher rates of child abuse
than families in which parents share responsibility for these decisions.
Effects
Child abuse distorts and destroys a childs development and has serious consequences that affect the child for
life.
Unchecked, child abuse leads to a disturbed adulthood. At worst, it ends in the death of the child. In between
these two possible consequences, many children live their lives neglected, unwanted, unloved, fearful and
without hope.
Evidence shows that the physical, psychological and behavioural consequences of child abuse have a
serious impact, not just on the child and the immediate family, but on the community as a whole.
The impact of child abuse is, of course, far greater than its immediate, visible effects. It is associated with short- and
long-term consequences that may include brain damage, developmental delays, learning disorders, problems forming
relationships, aggressive behaviour, and depression. Additionally, child abuse can lead to death. Unfortunately, weve
all come across reports on children dying from the injuries sustained from being abused.
Even is a child survives the abuse and neglect, he or she may be at greater risk for problems later in lifesuch as
low academic achievement, drug use, teen pregnancy, and criminal behaviourthat affect not just the child and
family, but society as a whole.
Child abuse is an offence in Malaysia, punishable under the Child Act (2001) and the Penal Code (revised 1997).
Offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of RM 50,000 or up to 20 years imprisonment, or both depending on the
offence. Offenders may also be punished with whipping in addition to the fine and/or imprisonment.