16 can be used in understanding and analyzing Anson’s character in Dean Koontz’s
The Husband.
3. Kinds of Abuses
According to Pritchard Colin, there are three kinds of abuses. Those are “physical, emotional or psychological, and sexual abuse” 11. In child abuse
cases, there are two main factors those are the abuse and abuser, and the impact of child abuse. Theory of abuse is needed to describe the kinds of abuses and the
abuser and the influence of abuse. This theory is needed to identify and categorize the kinds of abuse which happen to Anson.
a. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the most obvious abuse, which can be detected and observed. Physical abuse often leaves scar, therefore it is easier to be recorded.
According to
Pritchard Colin
there are many forms of physical abuse, such as “frequent or severe hitting, slapping, beating, shaking, punching, kicking”
12
Crosson and Tower states, “the cause of physical abuse can be categorized in three. Those are the psychodynamic or character-trait models, the interactional
models, and the environmental sociological culturally based models” 97. First is the psychodynamic or character-trait models, both of them attribute the abuse to
characteristics of the abusive parents. Second is the interactional models. It considers how the interactions between the victim and the abuser or the dynamics
within the family gives rise to an abusive situation. The third is the environmental
17 sociological culturally based models, which focus on the part that the milieu, and
stressors within the milieu, plays in the abuse. Physical abuse is the easiest abuse to be observed and to be taken action to
against, because it usually leaves scars. It causes damages and injures the body. Sometimes in some cases of abuse, discipline is often used as the reason to give
punishment. The frequent punishment such as hitting, kicking, or slapping can be categorized as physical abuse because the aim is not to make the children
discipline but more to make the children trauma. The punishment which related to body or a treatment which limits the space to move and develop his body can be
categorized as physical abuse. The traumatic experience happens to the victim leaves indelible memory. Therefore, in some cases physical abuse has related to
the psychological abuse.
b. Psychological Abuse
Garbino et al. as cited in Pritchard Colin states, “the presence of one of these types of emotional abuse is sufficient to cause long-term psychological harm
if it is profound and repeated in nature” 12. Psychological abuse is difficult to be
observed because it is related to the emotion inside. It cannot be seen physically. However, sometimes it relates to physical abuse too, if the physical abuse gives
long traumatic to the victim. There are some treatments which can be categorized as psychological
abuse “Threats to injure or kill; constant sneeringsarcasm or belittling; throwing
18 away or destroying toys; forbidden to speak or play; scapegoating; favoritism to
siblings; locked in room or confined space”
12
Crosson states, “Emotional or psychological maltreatment underlies all types or neglect” 216. Psychological abuse is more difficult to observe than
physical or sexual abuse. Therefore, it is unnoticed or untreated. The effect of emotional abuse can be detected if the victim shares or if the victim demonstrates
behavior problems such as anger, depression or maladjustment. Garbarino as cited in Cynthia Crosson and Tower states that today psychological is not an
inaccessible event, but rather a pattern of physically destructive behavior that may include rejecting, isolating, terrorizing, ignoring, and corrupting 216
First is rejecting. When the adult refuses to acknowledge the child’s worth or the legitimacy of the child’s need is the kind of rejecting. Second is isolating.
Isolating is one of the patterns of physical destructive, which can cause psychological abuse. It happens when the adult isolates the child from normal
social experiences, prevents the child from forming friendships and makes the child believes that he or she is alone in the world.
Third is terrorizing. It happens when the adult verbally assaults the child, creates a climate of fear, bullies and frightens the child. It makes the child
believes that the world is hostile and unsafe. It can make the children afraid and even traumatic. Fourth is ignoring. This is the physical behavior which can make
the child feels desperate because of parents’ carelessness. It can happen when the adult blocks the child from having prompt, stifling emotional growth and
intellectual development. The last is corrupting. The adult encourages the child to
19 connect in destructive and antisocial behavior, reinforces the deviance and makes
the child weak for normal social experience. Psychologically, this abuse implies rejection or in some manners impedes
the development of a child’s positive self-concept. There are some factors which can be the roots of psychological maltreatment. Psychological abuse is difficult to
prove or document and thus may go unnoticed because there are many factors, which can influence this abuse.
The children who are abused in their family especially by their parents or adult usually give some reactions and effects especially in their behavior and
personality. Children who are abused usually feel that they are isolated, inadequate, unwanted, moreover unloved and face maladjustment.
Crosson Cynthia and Tower state “The children respond to such messages in one of two ways: they fight back, becoming hostile, aggressive, and exhibit
behavior problems, or they run their anger inward, becoming self-destructive, depressed, withdrawn, or suicidal” 219. This study focuses on the influence of
child abuse on Anson’s experience, which influences his emotion and behavior. Psychological abuse concerns an abuse, which is characterized by a person
subjecting or exposing another to behavior. It is psychologically harmful. O’Hagan cited in Pritchard defines,
Psychological abuse as the sustained, repetitive, inappropriate behavior which damages, or substantially reduces, the creative
and developmental potential of crucially important mental faculties and
mental process of a child; these include intelligence, memory, recognition, perception,
attention and moral development 15.
20 Psychological abuse is one of abuses which happens to Anson. His parents
do such kinds repetitive and inappropriate behavior which limit his imagination and influence personality development.
c. Sexual Abuse