Unwed, low-income, teen mothers are at high risk for abusing their young child. Some parents were physically abused as children and are especially likely to vent psych ological stress on their children. Effects on the Child Children who experience physical abuse over a long period of time often develop long-term psychological problems. They typically believe they are worthless and bad because parents usually justify the abuse in those terms. The child's emerging self conce pt is crippled from the beginning.
Children often have pent-up anger and rage in response to physical abuse.
That cannot be expressed toward the parent because it only leads to even more abuse. So the rage is either directed toward the self, or psychologically stored. That rage may be e xpressed later in life in various forms of dysfunctional aggression. Physically abusive parents are often affectionate toward the child most of the time. Children naturally respond to this with a bonding reaction.