What do you know about the nature and causes of child abuse? How might you design an intervention to prevent child abuse?
Child abuse is both a social and psychological issue that is prevalent in almost all parts of the world. It is a serious problem not only due to its high prevalence as illustrated in the surveys that have been conducted but also due to complicated consequences of the same. It has been defined differently by different groups of people, but all definitions mean almost the same thing. Legally, child abuse is defined as “the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligence or maltreatment of the child under the age of eighteen, by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare under the circumstances which indicate that the child’s health and welfare are threatened thereby (Pandey, 2007 pp. 4)”.
On the same note, it is important to mention that child abuse may incorporate sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. Child neglect is also classified as child abuse because it increases the vulnerability of a child and exposes them to more harm.
There are many causes of child abuse in the view of the fact that the issue is multifaceted. It is against cultural norms, and therefore, most people who commit the crime are either psychologically disturbed or unable to make the right decisions due to the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Stress or depression emanating from relationship problems or even lack of capability of parenting leads to child abuse and neglect. Since child abuse is a traumatic experience, people who may have suffered from the same may also be unable to prevent their children from abuse. It is also caused by the failure to control anger.
Any intervention that can be used in the prevention of child abuse should focus on the causes of the same and the needs of children who are more prone to abuse. As studies of Eckenrode ( 2004) indicate, education and training to the parents or caregivers and also to everyone who takes care of children can be very effective in preventing child abuse. Programs that involve capacity building to help parents in raising children can also be very effective.
Discuss the impact of early physical maturity on boys compared to its impact on girls
Currently, due to various changes in environment and diet, boys and girls are maturing quite early compared to the age of maturation some years back. However, there is a difference between boy’s and girl’s perceptions of early maturation. To boys or the males, early maturation is not only embraced, but it is perceived as a great advantage to them. Physical characteristics associated with early maturation like strength and tallness makes a boy more admirable to his peers and the other people in the society.
Moreover, such characteristics also make a boy better in some events like sports compared to his peers and all help to improve his attractiveness. On the other hand, girls are devastated by early maturation and are affected greatly affected by the same. Due to the internalization of ideas concerning gender roles, girls who mature early usually view themselves as deviant.
Various studies which have been conducted to investigate the perception of boy and girls towards early maturation also affirm the above results. In a research which was conducted as illustrated in the studies of Brooks-Gunn, Petersen, & Eichorn (1985), boys who matured earlier were more popular among their peers and looked more attractive. Conversely, girls who mature earlier are uncomfortable while interacting with their peers and are mostly isolated. The issue of gender leads to different perceptions towards early maturity in boys and girls.
How do preschool children influence the gender-related behavior of their peers?
Gender, which refers to socially defined roles of males and females, is influenced by various factors in society. Different socialization agents like teachers, parents, and peers are greatly involved in influencing gender-related behavior. Since gender development starts early in life, children in preschool affect the gender-related behavior of their peers in various ways. During the preschool years, gender labeling takes place and gender stability. However, it is only after realizing that gender does not change when preschoolers start to develop gender roles.
Peers are very significant in influencing gender-related behavior because as psychologists suggest, the behavior is acquired through role play. During the preschool years, children observe the activities their peers are involved in and decide to learn the same. For instance, an adolescent girl observes which games other girls are playing and decides to learn to play the same. Boys also observe the games the boys are playing and decide to learn to play those particular games. It is at this stage when girls are involved only in female activities and boys the same. Particularly, role play is very important because it not only helps in cognitive development but also it gives a chance for preschoolers to learn and adopt specific gender roles (Ember & Ember, 2003).
Adolescents often have trouble adjusting to the rapid physical and social changes characteristic of adolescence. Discuss how an adolescent today faces a set of issues different from that of an adolescent a hundred years ago
Various stages in life are characterized by various changes and individuals have to adapt to both social and psychological changes that are present in those particular stages. However, the adolescence stage, which is characterized by the transition from childhood to adulthood is marked by more changes that are troublesome and multifaceted. Currently, adolescents have more troubles due to the changing environmental conditions compared to adolescents who existed in the first decade of the twentieth century.
Adolescents are faced with the great challenge of finding their place in society and gaining social recognition. In contemporary society, it is a great challenge based on the fact that the economy is highly technical, industrial, and quite competitive. Therefore, adolescents are forced to attain high education before they can achieve high social status. Initially, getting a job was not very difficult even with minimum education (United Nations, 1997).
Technology is important but has led to an increase of social evils and other troubles that are a challenge to adolescents. Also, due to globalization, there is a global culture, and it is difficult to attain a cultural identity. Initially, adolescents did not face such troubles since each society had its cultural values, beliefs, and norms and was rarely influenced by other cultures in the world.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, parents and other members of society had enough time to provide enough guidance to adolescents. On the contrary, parents today rarely spend time with their children since they are forced to work extra hard to earn a living. Therefore, unlike initially, adolescents rely on their peers and media as well as on the internet as sources of information. Relying on such sources of information is quite challenging because the chances of getting accurate information are minimal.
Describe some factors that may contribute to the adolescent-typical attitude of invulnerability
Research that has been conducted indicates that adolescents are more involved in risky behaviors more than adults. The attitude of invulnerability makes them to get involved in health-threatening behaviors and to be more willing to take risks. Compared to adults, adolescents and teenagers are more involved in behaviors like dangerous and reckless driving, drug use, and abuse, as well as intoxication. Although there is an age difference factor, there are some more reasons why adolescents are more involved in risky behaviors more than adults.
Studies of Cohn, Macfarlane, Yanez, & Imai (1995) illustrate that teenagers underestimate the harm in their risky behavior, and that is why they have no problem getting involved. For instance, it is quite explicit that acts like high speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous and has a high probability of causing accidents. However, since adolescents underestimate the harm involved, they usually drive recklessly and end up getting involved in accidents and thereby jeopardize their health.
Peer pressure is also a main problem in the adolescence stage, and it also increases invulnerability. For instance, drug abuse in groups ceases to become more dangerous, and that is why teenagers abuse drugs in groups.
The same habit of abusing drugs also increases invulnerability because a drug like marijuana affects a person’s ability to think rationally. Lastly, further studies have illustrated that, more often than not, teenagers do not interpret the risk of behavior independently and, as a result, they end up assuming that little or no harm may emanate from the same. It is important to study more factors that cause invulnerability to be in a position to come up with appropriate intervention strategies.
Construct an educational plan designed to create equitable educational opportunities for boys and girls
Education Plan for preschoolers
The items below will be used for teaching preschoolers various topics in English, Music, and Mathematics
- Chalk and drawing board
- Musical instruments
- Art and craft supplies
- Various words walls, like family, toy, and color word walls.
- Various pictures and drawings
English
For preschoolers, English will include
- Identifying letters of the alphabet
- Knowing the letters of the alphabet in the right sequence and format
- Writing the letters of the alphabet
- Listening to stories as the teacher reads them in class
Mathematics
Mathematic will include
- Identifying various numbers, knowing how to count appropriately
- Identifying various mathematical symbols
- Writing numbers appropriately
- Music will include the following
Learning various songs and learning the rhythm
It will be equally important for the teacher to make sure that the plan provides equal opportunities for both boys and girls. In class, both boys and girls should be given equal opportunities to answer questions and to participate accordingly. In cases there are groups, the teacher should make sure that every group contains a proper combination of both boys and girls. Besides, while teaching, the teacher should avoid languages that display gender stereotypes. Girls should be encouraged to participate in subjects like mathematics, and boys should be encouraged to participate in subjects like English. Ensuring gender equity in preschool is very important because preschoolers are usually in the formative years, and the same lays a proper foundation not only in education but also in their whole life.
References
Brooks-Gunn, J., Petersen, A. C., & Eichorn, D. (1985). The Study of Maturationa Timing Effects in Adolecence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence , 14 (3), 149-161.
Cohn, L. D., Macfarlane, S., Yanez, C., & Imai, W. K. (1995). Risk-Perception: Differences Between Adolescents and Adults. Health Psychology , 14 (3), 217-222.
Eckenrode, J. (2004). The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Web.
Ember, C. R. & Ember, M. (2003). Encyclopedia of sex and gender: men and women in the world’s cultures, Volume 1. New York: Springer.
Pandey, S. ( 2007). Psychological Consequences of Child Abuse. New York : Concept Publishing Company.
United Nations. ( 1997). Adolescents. Web.