abuse

n. Abuse refers to harmful and/or injurious treatment by one individual toward another. It is commonly accepted that specific instances of abuse can result from deliberate intent, ignorance, or negligence. The study of abuse began in the 1950s with regard to children; it is now widely understood that adults also experience violence. Both children and adults suffer various types of abuse including physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional/psy- chological abuse; recently, intellectual/spiri- tual abuse has also been identified. Different categories of abuse often serve as umbrella terms and include various types of actions. The most common categories are child abuse, elder abuse, partner abuse, wife abuse, financial abuse, workplace violence, stalking, and abusive professional relationships.
Theories regarding the causes and/or risk factors for abuse are usually specific to the category of abuse in question. Proposed causal factors across the various categories include sociocultural explanations including cultural values and belief systems, individual personality and/or psychopathological factors, economic stressors, and, increasingly, biological factors.
Effects of abuse can be life-altering and, in extreme cases, deadly. Nonfatal effects include physical, neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, social, and educational repercussions.
It is widely recognized that treatment options for abused individuals must be tailored to individual needs and can include medical, psychological, and legal interventions.
Psychologists are increasingly seeking ways both to intervene in and to prevent various types of violence. Changing underlying attitudes in communities and educational, societal, and legal systems is central to prevention and intervention efforts. — HLa