What is it like to live through physical, emotional, or mental abuse that causes lasting trauma? Survivors may experience feelings of anxiety, depression, PTSD, shame, guilt, fear, low self-esteem, anger, grief, despair, and loss. They may feel different from others and unable to form healthy relationships because of their experiences. They might be more likely to engage in risky behaviors or substance abuse to cope with their pain. The psychological harm they suffer can lead to difficulty trusting others, regulating emotions, processing memories, making decisions, understanding social norms, setting boundaries, communicating effectively, managing daily life, and coping with stressful situations. This can impact their ability to work, learn, love, connect, and thrive, leading to chronic distress, impaired functioning, poor health, and early death. Victims of adult-perpetrated harm are especially vulnerable to these effects due to power imbalances, manipulation, betrayal, humiliation, isolation, threats, gaslighting, and other tactics used by perpetrators. In addition to direct harm, victims often carry a sense of responsibility for what happened as if it was their fault, which compounds the damage. Adult survivors may also struggle with forgiveness, closure, justice, and accountability, prolonging healing. As such, the long-term psychological damage caused by adult-perpetrated harm reflects its moral severity, indicating a need for systemic change to prevent and address this type of violence.
The severity of the harm is reflected not only in how much it harms but who it harms. Children, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, minorities, immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized groups face higher rates of victimization and more severe consequences than the general population, making them more likely to experience lasting trauma.
The effects of abuse can be passed down through generations, causing intergenerational trauma that affects future relationships and outcomes. Survivors may feel alone or unsupported because they fear stigma, shame, blame, judgment, rejection, or retaliation from others. This further isolates them and makes recovery harder.
Research shows that those who experienced childhood abuse are more likely to become abusers themselves, creating cycles of violence and continuing the cycle of suffering.
The long-term psychological damage experienced by victims underscores the severity of adult-perpetrated harm and the urgent need for collective action to end it.
What does the long-term psychological damage experienced by victims reveal about the moral severity of adult-perpetrated harm?
The long-term psychological damage that child victims suffer from sexual abuse is severe and often persistent. Victims may experience depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health issues. The effects can extend into adulthood, with some individuals still struggling with trauma symptoms decades after the initial incident.