Types of abuse

 

Some types of abuse are more obvious than others. For example, physical abuse if often quite easy to spot, this might be when one person physically hits another person. A more difficult type of abuse to notice is neglect, for example when a parent drinks alcohol frequently, is a loving and fun parent to be around, but constantly forgets to feed their child/teen.

There are 4 main types of abuse recognised in Ireland. These are physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. We have also looked at dating violence on this website as a separate form of abuse.

Physical abuse is what most people think of when they hear of abuse.  It happens when another person injures or hurts someone, and it is not an accident.  This can include shoving, punching, slapping, pinching, hitting, kicking, hair pulling, choking, use of a weapon, and any other acts causing physical harm.  It is any action that causes an injury, leaves a mark, or causes bodily pain. If an adult fails to protect a child from physical abuse that they know is happening, they too are responsible for harming the child.

Sexual abuse is any type of sexual contact between an adult and a person under 17. If a person is sexual abused by a member of their family, it is called incest. This can include unwanted sexual touching and kissing, finding ways to force the child to engage in any kind of sexual activity and rape.

Note: The legal age to have sex in Ireland is 17 years old. This means, for example, that sex between a 16 year old girl and her 17 year old boyfriend is illegal.

Emotional abuse is often the most difficult type of abuse for people to recognise.  It happens when a parent, relative, friend or anyone who has regular contact with a child, is always or often, threatening, dismissing, or yelling to belittle a child or make them feel bad.  Emotional abuse occurs in nearly ever other type of abuse.  It can include threatening a child that is being abused that if they tell anybody about what’s going on, the abuser will hurt them more or hurt the person they tell.  Emotional abuse can include name-calling, threats, screaming, yelling, ridiculing, criticizing, emotional blackmailing, and stalking.  It happens when a child or young person’s need for affection, approval, stability and security is not met by the person who should be looking after them. 

Neglect is when a child or young person suffers harm by not having the things they need to develop safely into adulthood.  These things include food, clothes, warmth, safety, love, medical care. Neglect happens when a parent or any person who looks after a child does not meet these needs.  Neglect is not always on purpose, and some parents and care givers need support to learn how to take care of their children and how to make sure their children’s needs are met.

Dating Violence or date abuse occurs when you are going out with somebody and they hurt you in any way. Dating violence covers a wide range of behaviors that include verbal and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical violence.   If you’re being hurt by your girlfriend or boyfriend or someone else that you are in a relationship with, you have the right to tell someone and make this stop. It can be really difficult with this type of abuse because you care a lot about the person who is doing the abusing, but no one deserves to be hurt.