The damages from abuse are many, but they’re becoming well known. I’ve often listed the categories of them, physical, psychological, emotional and cognitive, but the damages themselves are:
Impaired cognitive development (trouble in school, poorer grades);
Behaviour problems;
All manner of disorders: eating, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictions;
Physical injuries, sometimes permanent and/or resulting in impaired physical development;
Etc., etc.
The thing is, the list of damages that have been so well documented as resulting from what is called corporal punishment – that is the same list. This is why corporal punishment is fast being outlawed all over the world.
All punishment is corporal punishment – that’s the big secret. Therefore the list of damages that result from all punishment is the same list.
Much abuse is punishment gone too far, and even those who promote punishment will agree that punishing means the administration of abuse (in the generic sense) for a good reason. Now . . .
Imagine a world without it.
A world without these damages, or with less of this damage? Now that is a world that would be something to see, wouldn’t it? Just ponder:
People with less cognitive impairment, fewer disordered people, less addiction . . . less damage of so many sorts. Healthier people, healthier psyches, who knows? Maybe people would even be smarter.
Just imagine it.
Abuse with an Excuse 