Essay On Gaslighting

Child abuse has detrimental effects on kids. Everything from long lasting physical scars, to mental scars that will impact these people for the rest of their lives. In an article by Samantha Gluck, she states that “numerous research studies conducted with abused children as subjects have concluded that a considerable number of psychological problems develop as a result of child physical abuse.” These problems include eating disorders, depression, inattentive issues such as ADD, and a multitude of other issues throughout their lifetime.
Perhaps one of the most common forms of abuse, yet least addressed, is called gaslighting. It is where someone, whether it be a parent, friend, or partner, accuses the victim of things that are not their fault. Gaslighting “causes a victim to question their own feelings, instincts, and sanity, which gives the abusive partner a lot of power... Once an abusive partner has broken down the victim’s ability to trust their own perceptions, the victim is …show more content…
Psychologists refer to children with symptoms of physical abuse as battered child syndrome. It can be defined as, “non-accidental injury resulting from hitting, whipping, beating, biting, kicking, or anything that harms a child's body.” (Samantha Gluck) The long lasting effects can include depression, withdrawal from social activities, and trust issues. One of the most acceptable forms of abuse is spanking your children. On a survey ran by America Psychological Association (APA), two-thirds of the US population still approves of spanking their children as a form of punishment. However, the APA states that, “Many studies have shown that physical punishment — including spanking, hitting and other means of causing pain — can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, physical injury and mental health problems for children.” Yet, many parents think that hitting their children will instill respect for authority