Psychosocial Integrity Q 8
A clinic nurse interviews a parent who is suspected of abusing her child. Which of the following characteristics is the nurse least likely to find in an abusing parent?
A. Low self-esteem
B. Unemployment
C. Self-blame for the injury to the child
D. Single status
Correct Answer: C. Self-blame for the injury to the child.
The profile of a parent at risk of abusive behavior includes a tendency to blame the child or others for the injury sustained. Abusers typically blame others, especially their partners, for the mistakes in their lives. This is related to hypersensitivity, but they are not necessarily alike. This occurs because most abusive people don’t hold themselves as being accountable for the actions they commit. Instead, they’ll try to shift the blame to the person that they have abused and somehow say they “deserved it” or that they were forced into a corner.
Option A: Basically, domestic violence offenders always feel the need to be in control of their victims. The less in control an offender feels, the more they want to hurt others.
Option B: One study suggests that unemployment can cause an increase in child neglect because parents have more limited access to the resources required to provide for a child’s basic needs, such as clothing, food, and medical care.
Option D: A “favorite” of abusers is to isolate their partners from family or friends. This type of isolation is often very common and often represents the first step in an abusive relationship. The abusive partner will attempt to set up an “us versus them” attitude and will begin isolating family members. This can work through the abuser’s use of jealousy, controlling behavior, or veiled concern.