Abuse

This article is about the mistreatment of people, systems or animals. For other uses, see Abuse (disambiguation).
"Mistreat" redirects here. For other uses, see Mistreat (disambiguation).

Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a person or thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit.[1] Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression. To these descriptions, one can also add the Kantian notion of the wrongness of using another human being as means to an end rather than as ends in themselves.[2] Some sources describe abuse as "socially constructed", which means there may be more or less recognition of the suffering of a victim at different times and societies.[3]

  1. ^ Abuse – Defined at Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 2013 [Word first known to have been used in the 15th century]. Retrieved 28 December 2013. abuse [may be defined as the following]...to treat (a person or animal) in a harsh or harmful way...[or] to use or treat (something) in a way that causes damage [or] to use (something) wrongly
  2. ^ McCluskey, Una; Hooper, Carol-Ann (2000). Psychodynamic Perspectives on Abuse: The Cost of Fear. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p. 40. ISBN 978-1853026850.
  3. ^ Doyle, Celia; Timms, Charles (2014). Child Neglect and Emotional Abuse: Understanding, Assessment and Response. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. p. 8. ISBN 9780857022301.