Child Abuse and Development This article will look at child abuse and some of the ways in which young children are affected developmentally. I will try to present an overview of the main types of abuse, but my main focus and most of my research has been to cover sexual abuse and its effect on the development of young children and how it can affect brain development. Child abuse is defined as mistreatment of children or minors, resulting in a variety of harmful outcomes that are detrimental to the well-being and safety of the victim. Child abuse can vary in the details and circumstances in which the crime occurs; Child abuse can occur in a direct physical manner, which includes physical attack and assault, however child abuse can also occur verbally and psychologically. Abuse includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, verbal abuse, and neglect (medical and otherwise). Physical abuse is physical force or violence that causes physical injury, pain, or impairment. Includes assault, battery and inappropriate restraint. In the United States, state and local protective services investigated 3.6 million reports of child abuse or neglect in 2006. Of these, more than 900,000 children have been identified as victims of child maltreatment. (Craig & Dunn, Ex.: 2010, p. 195) Parents are very likely to be perpetrators of child abuse: in 2006, 83% of victims were abused by a parent, alone or with a 'other person. Mothers are more likely than fathers to mistreat their children, in part because they spend more time with them. (Craig & Dunn, Ex.: 2010, p. 198) Physical abuse can have a number of long-term effects. It can cause physical injury, brain damage, and lead to emotional development....... middle of paper ......le River, NJStages of development. Retrieved from http://doctorjung.orgEffects of maltreatment on brain development. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.govEffects of maltreatment on the brain. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.govEffects on brain development [Educational Report]. Retrieved from Yale Psychiatric Institute: http://www.lawandpsychiatry.com/html/hippocampus.htmErickson's third developmental stage. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com How does physical abuse affect a child? (2008). Retrieved from www.healthyplace.comLamont, A. (2010). Effects of child abuse and neglect for children and adolescents [Family study]. Retrieved from Australian Institute for Family Studies: www.aifs.gov.auPerry, M.D., Ph.D., B.D. (2002). Helping traumatized children [Issue Brief]. Retrieved from The Child Trauma Academy: www.childtrauma.org