The center for educational and psychological research at the University of Baghdad held recently two seminars that addressed the physical abuse of children to shed light on this phenomenon that prevails in our community and to get rid of such wrong educational methods. The first seminar dealt with the most common forms of child abuse when he/she deliberately commits an act that results in a physical injury, namely subjecting the child to beating, kicking, hitting, pulling hair, tying up, severely shaking a baby, neglect or even burning. The researchers found that most children are abused at home or by someone they know, so this act can happen to a child of any race, religion, or economic status, especially when the parents or caretakers have false beliefs about education or because of the frustrations they are exposed to in society.
The second seminar studied the effects of physical abuse in childhood as any intentional harm or mistreatment to a child which is something shocking due to the marks it leaves since not all signs of child abuse are obvious. The participants discussed neglect as one of the most serious developmental problems experienced by people in childhood which may cause psychological disorders in adulthood as long-term effects difficult to be treated and it has no single cause in its occurrence but involves several overlapping factors that requires an early diagnosis by psychologists to identify the factors causing this phenomenon and then to develop a plan for treatment and prevention. Regardless of the type of abuse, the result is serious emotional harm.
