Some parents needs assistance in upbringing a child. Due to the lack of education, there are limitations in disciplining a child. Excessive and unreasonable punishment resulting in physical injuries is considered physical child abuse. There is a thin line between corporal punishment and physical child abuse. The law accepts corporal punishment however, if the corporal punishment leaves physical injuries such as bruises and fracture or broken bones, the punishment is not longer viewed as corporal punishment but viewed as physical child abuse. Lack of education in these areas can easily portray the parents or caregiver as an abuser. Single- parent household is a cause of physical child abuse. According to Bartol and Bartol (2014), “in 2010, twenty- three percent of children lived with only their mothers, three percent lived with only their fathers, and four percent lived with neither of their parent” (p. 38). Similar to family violence, the single parent can take their frustration on their child. Their frustration can arise from work problems, financial issues, or emotional distress. Single parents can easily displace aggression or experience excitation transfer toward a child. Many of time aggression are demonstrated by physically hurting a child. If the aggression continuously produces the same result, physical abuse will …show more content…
In the United States, one out of five children lives in poverty and children and youth living in poverty are more likely to be victims as well as offenders of violence (Bartol & Bartol, 2014). Children living in poverty are at a higher risk of being abused, especially physical abuse. As argued in social learning theory, “human learn virtually all their behavior, beliefs, and tendencies from the social environment” (Bartol & Bartol, 2014). Children in poverty observe violence or experience violence from their household. Similar to the cycle of violence hypothesis, parents that exercise aggressive and violent disciple often provides a mold for children to repeat into the next generation Poverty influences the family household as well. Due to living in condition of lack of social support, lack of resources and lack of opportunity, it is difficult for parents to avoid harsh and inconsistent discipline with their young children (Bartol & Bartol, 2014). Parents or legal guardian living in poverty do not have the time to think of strategies on disciplining their children. Working numerous jobs for long hours, physical punishment such as spanking is quicker for disciplining their children. The pattern of spanking the child can transform into physical child abuse. Spanking the child aggressively over and over for minor problems can be viewed as child abuse especially if there is physical