Behavioral Signs of Physical Abuse Self-destructive behavior; • Evident discomfort with physical contact; for • example, an abused child will often avoid physical contact, sometimes even shrinking at the touch or approach of an adult; Fear of being at home, or being alone with • parents or caretakers; Reported injury caused by a parent; • Chronic running away from home most • – common with adolescents and preadolescents; Complaints of soreness or discomfort when • walking or moving; Wearing of clothing not appropriate to the • weather to cover body; Apprehension caused by crying of children; • Demonstrated extremes in behavior; for example, extreme aggressiveness or withdrawal; or • Unprovoked cruelty to animals. • There are questions you can ask yourself when identifying possible physical abuse: Are bruises bilateral, or are they found on only • one surface (plane) of the body? Did bruises occur at different times? Bruises of • various ages could indicate ongoing abuse. Are there patterns caused by a particular • instrument; for example, a belt buckle, a straight edge, coat hanger? Are injuries inconsistent with the explanation • offered by the caretaker? Are inconsistent explanations for bruising or • injuries offered over time? Are injuries inconsistent with the child’s age? • Are the patterns of the injuries consistent with •
Behavioral Signs of Physical Abuse • Self-destructive behavior; • Evident discomfort with physical contact; for example, an abused child will often avoid physical contact, sometimes even shrinking at the touch or approach of an adult; • Fear of being at home, or being alone with parents or caretakers; • Reported injury caused by a parent; • Chronic running away from home – most common with adolescents and preadolescents; • Complaints of soreness or discomfort when walking or moving; • Wearing of clothing not appropriate to the weather to cover body; • Apprehension caused by crying of children; • Demonstrated extremes in behavior; for example, extreme aggressiveness or withdrawal; or • Unprovoked cruelty to animals. There are questions you can ask yourself when identifying possible physical abuse: • Are bruises bilateral, or are they found on only one surface (plane) of the body? • Did bruises occur at different times? Bruises of various ages could indicate ongoing abuse. • Are there patterns caused by a particular instrument; for example, a belt buckle, a straight edge, coat hanger? • Are injuries inconsistent with the explanation offered by the caretaker? • Are inconsistent explanations for bruising or injuries offered over time? • Are injuries inconsistent with the child’s age? • Are the patterns of the injuries consistent with
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