Physical Abuse

An abused kid may be struck, shaken, choking, biting, kicking, punching, burning, poisoning, smothering, or held underwater. Bruises, cuts, welts, burns, fractures, internal injuries, and, in the worst-case scenario, death can all result from physical abuse. Bodily violence is defined as an act that is intended to cause or results in pain or physical injury. As with other forms of violence, the perpetrator’s primary goal is to limit the other’s ability to self-determine, which may or may not always include physical suffering.

The perpetrator’s use of physical violence sends a clear message to the victim: “I can do things to you that you don’t want to happen.” Such violence may be used to illustrate societal power imbalances or to advocate certain demands, sometimes regularly, through compulsion. Domestic violence, or physical violence in personal relationships, continues to be a pervasive problem in every country.