squirt13000 asked this question on 5/10/2000:

Dear Ms. Fair I am a ninth grade student at Timbercrest Junior High in washington. I am doing an extensive research project on child abuse, and I really need help. If you could assist me it would be greatly appreciated. My e-mail is alc2003@hotmail.com. What I need to know is: How do parents begin to become abusive? What are the long term affects on the child? How to the children cope with abusing parents, and what is the punishment for abusing parents? Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from you.

Eaglet gave this response on 5/10/2000:

I don't know how much help I will be, but I will try.

Most parents become abusive because their parents were abusive or they were abused..I don't know why or how they become abusive, I don't understand this yet myself.

There is usually a life time effect on the child. They may repress, but some time some way, it will come up. A part of the child will always remember, but they don't have to let it control them or hurt them all of their life.

Some children might dissasociate from their selves, may take on another identity, image they are in another place, things like that. Some might turn to alcohole, drugs, or "cutting". Some might reveal the abuse to a trusted adult, and might actually get into therepy and get the help that they will need to overcome the abuse and trauma.

The punishment for the adults, in my book, there really isn't any, atleast non the suit me. I know people that have abused their children, and nothing ever happened to them. Some loose their children, some are ordered to couns. and some even end up in jail.

I don't think I was much help for you..Sorry I hope your research goes great. You can also get information, by doing a search on Child abuse, on the net, I found alot of info there that I never knew....

The average rating for this answer is 4.6.

squirt13000 rated this answer a 5.

THANK YOU SO MUCH