is it more damaging if the child is young like 7 when it happens, and was told not only by the abuser, but by another person not to tell anyone because he will go to jail and the child will get in trouble???
2007-02-04 06:37:21 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Incest is damaging, no matter what the age of the child. Since the abuser was a family member, the abused person will likely have issues with trust as she/he grows older. The adults in the family did not protect her/him. If you can't trust your family, who can you trust?
As if it's not bad enough to be warned by one person, two people scared the child. If this person is you, I would encourage you to do what you can to prevent this person from ever harming another child. Keep in mind that this person will be around other kids and maybe even your own child. If it's someone you know, encourage them to report the abuse. In my opinion, this is the most disgusting crime committed. Help to break the cycle by reporting it. Good luck.
2007-02-04 07:49:53 · answer #1 · answered by katydid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is damaging at any age. I think whoever this happened to, whether its you or someone you know, they should speak up. The abuser will try anything they can to get you not to tell. It's good that they will end up in jail. A child should never be told to keep what happened a secret. When they are older they won't feel as strong as they are. The child will not get in trouble. The court will pull anything they have on you and your family, stay strong. The person who did it deserves a punishment.
2007-02-04 15:27:19 · answer #2 · answered by Yay me!!!! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the others. Incest is damaging at any age. However, as children get older, they have a broader context for understanding what is happening to them, so the older they get... the longer the incest continues... the incest may become more and more damaging.
Anyone who is aware of a child being mistreated has a responsibility to report this information.
2007-02-04 17:03:55 · answer #3 · answered by ms_lain_iwakura 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Incest at ANY age is damaging, especially when more people than the abuser tells you not to say anything. I was a victim of incest, and it's just as damaging when people know about it and sweep it under the rug and pretend not to know, just because no one wants to admit that it's possible for a family member to do such a thing. It screws up your whole life. And you are never able to forget what happened, either.
2007-02-04 15:09:40 · answer #4 · answered by IthinkFramptonisstillahottie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
umm, I'm pretty sure any incest at all is damaging. but your probably right that it is more so at a young age cause then it traumatizes the child and puts a fear in them that shouldn't be there. and children really shouldn't fear their family like that.
2007-02-04 15:21:39 · answer #5 · answered by mulattoprincess91 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋