What is neglect and what to do if you encounter it
Miscellaneous / / November 12, 2021
Believing that it is only the mother who should take care of the baby is also violence.
What is neglect
Ignorance (from the English. "Neglect") is a form of psychological abuse in which a person systematically ignoresWhat Is Neglect? / National Adult Protective Services Assotiation the vital needs of the victim who depends on him.
In Europe and the United States, the term is commonly used in the context of childcare.Signs of Neglect / Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP) or incapacitated peopleTypes and Signs of Abuse. Neglect / Washington State Department of Social and Health Services — seriously ill or have limited mobility.
In recent years, the concept of neglect has expanded, because not only the most vulnerable people can become its victims.
How to recognize neglect
People who find themselves in a vulnerable position usually receive support from those around them. For example, a sick person may expect that a husband or wife will make tea with lemon, go out for groceries and sit with the children.
But with ignorance, the desires of the sick person will be systematically ignored. If a partner forgets about the need to help 1-2 times, it may be a simple carelessness. If he does this constantly and never corrects himself, this is psychological abuse. It is the systematic nature and unwillingness to change that gives neglect.
Moreover, it can manifest itself not only in relationships within the family, but also at work or, for example, in a hospital. So, the manager may fundamentally not provide sick leave, and the staff of the medical facility may ignore the patient's requests.
In specific cases, neglect manifests itself in different ways depending on the relationship between the victim and abuser:
- Parents do not care about their children, ignore their requests. In such a situation, a child may come to school dirty, in clothes that are not suitable for the weather, and may not receive the necessary medical care.
- Likewise, the neglector does not pay attention to the needs of an elderly relative who is not able to serve himself on his own. For example, not cleaning a room, refusing medication, and not maintaining good hygiene.
- A negligee will not help a sick loved one and will not take on any household chores.
- Husband fundamentally does not help his wife around the house, although he expects from her that she will work and earn at least on a par with him. After the birth of a common child, he completely shifts the care of the baby onto his wife. Let's say he moves to another room to get some sleep.
- The head of the family alone makes decisions that affect all its members, and completely disposes budget. The desires and needs of addicted people are not taken into account.
What forms can neglect take
It is conventionally sharedWhat Is Neglect? / National Adult Protective Services Assotiation into several basic types.
- Physical. In this case, the needs of the vulnerable person for food, hygiene, medicine, sleep, rest, and clothing and footwear for the season are ignored.
- Emotional. It consists in refusing to respect the feelings and experiences of the victim. One partner will not listen to the other, will not support in emotionally difficult situations.
- Financial. A negligee will not buy beautiful pencils for children, but will offer to draw with the cheapest ones. Or he won't buy a washing machine, because you can wash it with your hands.
- Educational. It can concern both children who are not allowed to go to school and adults. For example, when the husband demands that the wife leave school for the sake of the household.
- Social. Associated with the abuse of his position. So, the doctor will refuse the patient anesthesia, and the official will ignore all visitors in order to drink the tenth cup of tea.
- Self-negligence. This is self-neglect. A person can work too much and deny himself adequate sleep and rest, save money and wear one thing for years, or go to the doctors when a health problem can no longer be ignored.
What is the danger of neglect
Systematic neglect destroys the victim's personality. Her desires and needs are constantly ignored, and gradually she begins to consider herself a burden, and her life is meaningless. As a result, self-esteem falls rapidly, rises anxietydepression, addictions and other mental disorders.
Ignorance has more serious consequences. For example, denial of care and purchase of medicines in the case of a sick person can even lead to death.
What to do if it seems to you that you are faced with ignorance
Is common to all types violence advice: try to stop or get out of the traumatic situation as quickly as possible.
For example, if we are talking about social ignorance, you can file a complaint against a specific specialist, write about an incident on social media to draw attention to an issue, or eventually contact another official, or to the doctor.
When the victim is unable to end the violence, that is, neglect touches children or helpless people, social tools play an important role. In case of obvious neglect of children, unauthorized adults, for example, a school teacher or kindergarten teacher, can and should contact the police or guardianship authorities. Likewise, the participation of the concerned is important for helping disabled people.
When a neglector is one of the spouses, everything is also not easy. It can be difficult for victims to admit that they were betrayed by the closest person, and society often takes the side of the aggressor. People can convince: "Everyone lives like this and nothing, they don't complain." Or even resent: "He already supports you, he already cares for you, but no, give you more!"
The solution to the problem is one - to stop depending on the neglector and try to end this relationship.
To do this, you should ask your family for help or start saving money in your personal account in order to create a "safety cushion". You can also seek support from caring friends, colleagues, neighbors. They are able to give useful advice or help you step by step to get out of the addicted relationship.
As a last resort, it makes sense to find the contacts of the local violence victim assistance center and contact the staff. Such organizations have psychologists and lawyers who will advise on how best to act in a particular case.
Read also❌❌❌
- How to negotiate with an aggressor
- “I never knew what was waiting for me at home”: how to deal with toxic parents
- How to get rid of loneliness in marriage
- How to recognize and resist passive aggression
- Where do relationship trust problems come from and how to get it back
Author and editor of articles on health, psychology, sexology. I have been working in medical journalism for over 15 years. I rely on the principles of docmed, love and know how to search and analyze relevant research in world scientific journals. I try to write about the most complex diseases in a simple and accessible way. I believe that understanding the mechanism of development of the disease means taking the first step towards recovery.