A Look at: Child Abuse – The foundations for Jamaica’s Criminality

Child abuse is an unfortunate phenomenon that happens all across the world, but Jamaica has a serious problem with this issue as UNICEF has reported that Jamaica is ranked second in the world for child abuse while South Africa ranks number one.

What is Child Abuse? Contrary to popular belief, child abuse does not just mean physical injury to a child. Child abuse also includes emotional or psychological abuse where a child is subjected to treatment which can cause psychological trauma, resulting in emotional disorders such as anxiety or depression, problems with cognitive development or learning disabilities and poor academic performance as well as chronic or lifelong mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse or riske sexual behaviour.

Child abuse is far reaching, and its effects are more damaging than people realize. The high prevalence of child abuse in Jamaica means entire generations are being raised to become adults with lifelong psychological issues, a predisposition towards criminal violence and activity, and difficulties in professional development or advancement because of impaired cognitive development and poor academic performance.

According to the World Health Organization some factors that make particular societies at high risk for child maltreatment is high levels of unemployment or poverty, the easy availability of alcohol and drugs, and social and cultural norms that promote or glorify violence towards others, support the use of corporal punishment and diminish the status of the child in parent-child relationships.

We’ve often heard it said in Jamaican culture that children should be seen and not heard, to not spare the rod and spoil the child. But if the use of corporal punishment in child rearing was effective in bringing up disciplined, professional and successful adults, why are we seeing such adverse effects?

I’m going to share with you some very disturbing statistics. Even though just a tiny island of 2.7 million people, In recent years the United Nations listed Jamaica as having the world’s sixth worst homicide rate. In 2005, with 1674 murders, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the world! Over the last 30 years, real per capita GDP increased at an average of just one percent per year, making Jamaica one of the slowest growing developing countries in the world. Jamaica’s literacy rate also lags behind many of its Caribbean neighbours at only 87% with the vast majority of Jamaica’s working-age population considered to be low-skilled workers, many without even a high school diploma. And according to the United Nations Development Programme, in 2013 Jamaica had the highest number of youth convicted of crime in the region.

Why are our juvenile detention facilities so full? Why are so many of Jamaica’s youth involved in criminal activities? If you were to look at these boys and ask them, do you think any of these children were growing up in households that didn’t believe in corporal punishment?

Some facts about the use of corporal punishment such as spanking might surprise you. A 2009 study from the University of New Hampshire which studied corporal punishment since 1969 found that children who were physically punished had up to a five point lower IQ score than children who weren’t. Among the 32 countries studied, for those in which spanking was accepted, the average IQ of the survey population was lower than in nations where spanking was rear.

And what about psychological abuse? Sadly, many children growing up in Jamaican homes experience psychological abuse, but the local, cultural norms and attitudes of the population don’t accept that psychological or emotional abuse causes actual injury to a child. Psychological abuse includes things such as name calling, yelling, insulting or disparaging the child such as calling them ugly or stupid, threatening, imitating or mocking, swearing at the child, neglect or isolation.

The verbal berating of a child by an angry parent is simply seen as a scolding and parents simply don’t understand the extent of damage this kind of psychological attack may cause. Many children under the stress and anxiety of physical or psychological abuse find it difficult to focus or concentrate. They may fall behind in school academically or even develop learning challenges or disabilities. Where a child is constantly berated or made to feel ashamed or embarrassed, they may lack confidence, shying away from any activity that may put them at the centre of attention, so don’t be surprised when a teacher reports that the child hardly participates in class and is reluctant to answer questions or speak in front of a group.

Children not only fear the act of physical discipline, but also fear the potential of doing anything that may trigger a parent’s anger. Where there is constant fear of physical punishment or harsh, abusive scoldings at home something as simple as a school uniform getting soiled or a missing pencil case could trigger a frightened child into running away instead of facing the consequences that might await them at home.

A study published in 2012 by the official journal of the American Academy of Paediatrics found a close relationship between physical punishment and mental disorders. Researchers found that harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. Research by Florida State University also shows a high correlation between spanking and a wide range of behavioural outcomes in children including aggression, psychopathology and criminal involvement. What makes the situation even worse, is that parents will often try to offset defiant or aggressive behaviour in their children with even harsher or more severe punishments instead of changing their technique.

A defiant or rebellious child often finds that they are met with even more psychological beratement. Because of their aggressive behaviour or poor academic performance they are told even more how worthless and stubborn they are, and how they’ll never achieve anything in life. These harsh scoldings only further cement in the child’s mind they’re low sense of self-worth and hopelessness. This child is at high risk of becoming another of Jamaica’s criminal statistics.

But what of children who aren’t beaten? Who aren’t psychologically berated and scolded? Surely they must become indisciplined, aggressive perpetrators, incapable of achieving success because of what must be spoiled, selfish tendencies!

On the contrary! A UCLA study shows that from as early as infancy babyies respond positively to physical affection and soft gentle tones of voice. Babies hugged and cuddled and held often thrive not only physically but in cognitive development. Loving interactions between parent and baby causes stimulation and brain activity that encourages neuro-connections.

Children who don’t experience the duress and anxiety of physical punishment or psychological scoldings are able to learn through play and develop confidence as well as cognitive skills. Secure in a parents love through affection and words of encouragement and positive reinforcement, their identity and sense of self are healthy and positive. And a child who is not exposed to abuse, violence or psychological damage is more likely to develop the social ability of empathy, sympathy and kindness, rather than be hardened by severity. Children aren’t afraid to shine academically and also learn through being allowed to make mistakes.

We even see the economic effects in countries where the rate of child abuse is lower in comparison with countries where the rate of child abuse is high. The criminality in countries such as Sweden where a ban has been put on corporal punishment ranks low in comparison with countries like Jamaica.

But if corporal punishment and harsh scoldings aren’t allowed, what will parents use to keep their children on the right path?

Great question! Because there are many parenting resources with alternative methods for the development of the child, one of the most important methods being an active parent-child relationship where parents take the time to learn about their children, the challenges they are having, support them in school activities and assignments, engaging them in conversation and play. Using a rewards system, rather than a system based on punishment and being generous with positive encouragement and physical affection. In warm, loving homes, children grow into becoming warm and loving adults with social skills and cognitive abilities that will propel them into having not only successful careers, but successful relationships, marriages and families of their own.

But Roxanne, you may say, I was beaten as a child and I came out fine! To that I would say, in the lew of local trends and statistics, that you are the exception and not the norm. That your success has been in spite of, and not because of the severity in your childhood while many unfortunately fall pray to becoming negative statistics.

We already know the path that severe corporal punishment has taken Jamaica down, all too well. Given the current trends, don’t you think it’s time we made a change?