Comments for Abuse Breeds Abuse

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Mar 06, 2008
 Studies can't tell what they don't know
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

Originally posted Oct 30, 2007

You raise an excellent question, Elaine, a question that requires a lot more space than what is allotted here.

Studies are all over the map with this issue. Some reflect that inter-generational abuse is rampant; while other studies suggest that most abuse victims DO NOT go on to abuse their own children. But child abuse continues to be so under-reported, that we can't accurately reflect what the actual statistics are. And then there is the ever-present issue of what constitutes child abuse. Within many countries, there is no standardized definition of child abuse, if there is a definition at all!

But one can look within their own families to determine for themselves if abuse breeds abuse. Your family is a prime example, Elaine.

From my perspective, inter-generational abuse is pure fact. Abuse afflicted my mother, my mother's mother, and my mother's mother's mother. Abuse adversely affected my father, my father's father, and countless others along the branches of the family tree. Both my parents suffered severe depression, plus a host of other mental disorders; all were attributed to the brutal and vicious child abuse they were forced to endure. But other than filing my own child abuse claim once with Social Services decades ago, every single case of abuse went entirely unreported. Therefore, my family abuse situation does not appear in any statistical data.

I know with absolute certainty that abuse breeds abuse, unless appropriate steps are taken to break that cycle of abuse.

Elaine, I am considering addressing this issue in Barriere Bits.

Darlene Barriere
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir
Mar 06, 2008
 True, but not always
by: JWC

Originally posted Oct 30, 2007

I don't think there is a yes or no answer to this question. I do believe that SOME abuse victims go on to abuse their own children, but not all of them do. Some go the other way. Some become advocates for victims, like Darlene Barriere. I guess it all depends on the person, the type of abuse the person suffered, and how he or she copes.
Mar 06, 2008
 Barrierr bits
by: Anonymous

Originally posted Oct 30, 2007

There should be a barrierr bits on why this cycle happens, why people repeat the past
Mar 06, 2008
 definatly not
by: Anonymous

Originally posted Oct 30, 2007

my mother and step father beat and my step father raped me for yrs i now have a daughter and step daughter and would never hurt a hair on their head so please dont think that
Mar 06, 2008
 True
by: Mike

Originally posted Nov 04, 2007

Yes. It is true. If people are abused long enough, but they thin it's their fault, they may become abusers too. Sense you wrote this, I trust you have never abused your child, if you have one.

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