Signs can also be shown through the child's actions, including: loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, clinging to mother or siblings, shyness, fear of the dark, increased violent behavior, verbal abuse, regression, inappropriate responses to discipline, temper tantrums, whining, over sensitivity, testing and pushing limits as far as possible, and irregularity.
Physical abusers themselves often come from families in which abuse was the norm. The main reason for this is because hitting children to correct and control them is so deeply ingrained in American culture. Sexual abuse was also considered the norm because taking liberties with a child was often considered casual use of an unimportant object.
Physical abuse is any use of size, strength, or presence to hurt or control someone else. Examples of physical abuse include: pushing, pulling, slapping, biting, choking, shoving, grabbing, pinching, spanking, kicking, spitting, hair pulling, arm twisting, forced kneeling, burning, shooting, stabbing, restraining, backhanding, pushing into/pulling out of a car, banging head on wall or floor, pinning against wall, punching with a fist, and attack with a weapon. Emotional abuse is any use of words, voice, action, or lack of action meant to control, hurt, or demean another person. Examples of emotional abuse include: threatening, calling names, making insinuations, yelling, using insults, being sarcastic, withholding approval, appreciation, or affection as a punishment, sneering, growling, criticizing, ignoring, humiliating and laughing. A caller on a radio show once said, "If I had to choose between physical and verbal abuse, I"d take a beating anytime. You can see the marks, so at least people feel sorry for you. With the verbal stuff, it just makes you crazy. The wounds are invisible. Nobody cares. Real bruises heal a lot faster than insults." (96) Sexual abuse is any sexual behavior meant to control, manipulate, humiliate, or demean another person.
