Impulsivity
Experts have defined impulsiveness from different perspectives. According to the psychologist, Cristina Arias (Arias et al., 2021), it corresponds to the ‘reaction to a stimulus, carried out without planning’.
The individual doesn’t take into account the repercussions or the impact of their way of responding. In addition, behaviors that gravitate toward impulsiveness are often short-lived with potentially unpleasant consequences.
Negative urgency, the starting point of impulsiveness
The perception of urgency is the incombustible and apparently indomitable engine that triggers impulsive or hasty behavior. In this context, urgency is clothed in negative emotions such as anguish, irritability, or fury. It precipitates certain behavioral reactions. In the area of child abuse, they can be devastating, desperate, and even fatal.
Child abuse syndrome: between life and death
It was around the time of the Second World War that health professionals first coined the term battered child syndrome. Indeed, these experts, largely in the fields of pediatrics and radiology started to use the term due to the increasing number of distressing cases they saw.
During the decades after the war, this term was widely used to describe events in which caregivers physically abused minors.
Subsequently, other forms of violence (for example, psychological violence) were included and the name of the syndrome was changed. This gave rise to what’s now known as child abuse syndrome (Tsranchev et al., 2022). Its characteristics and manifestations are clear and multiple. For instance, they might be on a physical level like fractures, bruises, and bites. Alternatively, on a psychological level like post-traumatic stress, language problems, and personality disorders.
Child abuse: a potentially deadly form of violence
According to research published in Folia Medica, the worst outcome of child abuse is the death of the child. Moreover, in these cases of homicidal child violence, impulsivity plays an even more important role (Tsranchev et al., 2022). Fortunately, they’re less frequent than other forms of abuse.
The individuals who commit these atrocities exercise the abuse with particularly explosive and voracious fury. In fact, impulsiveness plays a predominant role. The perpetrator carries out multiple behaviors. According to Dr. Ivan Tsranchev, from the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Bulgarian University of Plovdiv, these might involve:
- Throwing the child against any hard surface.
- Multiple impacts to the child’s body are applied with great force for a short period.
- A process of sudden acceleration or deceleration of the whole body.
Unfortunately, child abuse syndrome prevails in the public arena. Its consequences are disturbing, unfortunate, and heartbreaking. If the child survives, they may face serious consequences. For instance, post-traumatic stress disorder or borderline personality disorder.
As you can see, impulsivity plays a crucial role in abusive behaviors. Faced with trivial or minor stimuli, the adult reacts without taking into account the repercussions of their behavior. Sadly, these consequences have the potential to unleash a burning hell that puts an end to the infant’s future.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
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SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
- Indicator 16.2.1: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 5 and SDG 16. SDG 5 addresses gender equality and aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The article discusses child abuse, which includes violence against children, including girls. SDG 16 focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions and aims to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children. The article highlights child abuse as a form of violence against children.
Based on the content of the article, the specific targets under these SDGs can be identified:
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
The article mentions or implies indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
- Indicator 16.2.1: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator 16.2.1: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation |
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Source: exploringyourmind.com
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