Abortion and It's Violent Effect on Surviving = Children

Abortion and its = Violent Effect on=20 Surviving Children Philip G. Ney, = MD,=20 FRCP(C), MA, FRANZCP, RPsych =A91998 Tables are not=20 included. For a full text and table version of this article, = please=20 contact us via: iiplcarr@islandnet.com Public = and=20 professionals alike are asking many questions about = violence, but=20 seldom see any connection with the most critical violence, = that is,=20 the wilful, paid dismemberment and destruction of a small, = innocent=20 human. Surely we have learned that what we do to = others we do=20 to ourselves because we are all so tightly bound in the = bundle of=20 life. Eventually the destruction of other humans kills = our own=20 humanity. There is a cascading effect. When the = weakest=20 and most vulnerable are first destroyed there is a = progression that=20 leads to increasingly powerful destruction so that in the = end no one=20 escapes. For = many years=20 it was stated that the first right of a child is to be = wanted. =20 It was argued that if every child was wanted he/she would = not be=20 neglected and abused. Although this appears to be a=20 self-evident truth there should be some research to test = this=20 hypothesis, especially since it affects such a vast number = of=20 people. The corollary to "every child must be wanted" = is that=20 if the child is not wanted, he has no right to be. = This, in=20 fact, is becoming a policy in much of the = world. For = all the ills=20 in Society, the most useful scapegoat is the person who is = innocent,=20 voiceless and unable to defend himself. The unborn = child is=20 the perfect scapegoat. But scapegoating never resolves = the=20 basic problems. It eventually rebounds onto all those = who are=20 doing the scapegoating. The others that suffer the = most are=20 the siblings of the terminated children. These are = people we=20 call those who are suffering with the Post Abortion Survivor = Syndrome. We = found=20 unresolved pregnancy losses interfere with bonding to = subsequent=20 children and consequently increase rates of abuse and = neglect. =20 We also found that supportive physicians can, at least = partially,=20 compensate for the lack of partner support and thereby = diminish the=20 frequency of pregnancy losses and thus lower rates of=20 mistreatment. As a = child=20 psychiatrist who has consulted in prisons for young = offenders, it is=20 not hard to see how violent and cruel young people can = be. =20 Yet, when you listen to their stories it is not hard to = understand=20 why it happens. There is a connection between how they = have=20 been treated and how they treat themselves and others. In = addition=20 to the clinical observations, we now have collected data = that shows=20 the link between various facets of abortion and how people = become=20 violent. Violence occurs=20 in a tragic triangle involving a Perpetrator, Victim and=20 Observer. The Observers frequently have the most = critical=20 part, and yet when confronted they are most likely to say = they=20 didn't know and could have done nothing to stop the = tragedy. =20 This triangle rotates with time and circumstance so that = very=20 frequently those who are Observers or Victims become = Perpetrators=20 and Perpetrators become Victims. In matters of life = and death=20 there are no innocent bystanders, even though the bystanders = try so=20 hard to convince themselves that they are innocent by = scapegoating=20 either the Perpetrator or the Victim. No one = has yet=20 proved that providing means to ensure that every child is = wanted has=20 diminished the rate of abuse and neglect. There is = some=20 demographic evidence to the contrary [1]. In Canadian = provinces=20 where the abortion rate is the highest, the child abuse rate = is also=20 the highest. The increase in child abuse rate in = Canada=20 corresponds with the introduction of liberalised=20 abortion. From = our ongoing=20 study of the causes and effects of child abuse and neglect = we have=20 found that: 1) In = less than=20 5% of the cases does child mistreatment occur in one form, = i.e. 95%=20 of children are affected by various combinations of abuse = and=20 neglect. The most damaging combinations include some = form of=20 neglect. 2) = Depending on=20 the type and severity of the child abuse or neglect, there = is a=20 30-50% chance the mistreatment will become = transgenerational. =20 Verbal abuse is most frequently passed on from one = generation to the=20 next. 3) The = best=20 model to explain mistreatment interactions is a triangle = that=20 involves a perpetrator, victim, and observer. This = triangle=20 rotates with time and circumstances. 4) = Children tend=20 to blame themselves to varying degrees, depending upon the = severity=20 and type of abuse. They are most likely to blame = themselves=20 for verbal and sexual abuse. 5) = Mistreatment=20 affects the child's self-perception and his outlook on the=20 world. It tends to make children suicidal, pessimistic = about=20 the future, and negative about themselves. Children = who were=20 physically abused tend to expect a violent death. 6) = When given a=20 variety of choices regarding causation, children tend to = attribute=20 mistreatment most frequently to parental immaturity and then = to=20 marital conflict, alcohol, unemployment, etc. 7) = When abuse is=20 preceded by neglect the damaging impact is greater. = Neglect=20 appears to make children both more susceptible and more = vulnerable=20 to mistreatment. 8) = Abuse is not=20 related to wantedness except inversely. Wantedness = appears to=20 change during pregnancy and is lowest during the first=20 trimester. 9) = Women who=20 have had unresolved abortions more frequently abuse and = neglect=20 children. Women who have been mistreated as children = are more=20 likely to have abortions. 10) =20 Post-abortion women more often respond to a child's cry with = feelings of anger, anxiety or helplessness. 11) = Being abused=20 by her partner is a better predictor of child abuse by a = mother than=20 the fact that she was abused as a child. Mothers tend = to be=20 mistreated by their partner as they were abused as a=20 child. 12) = Unresolved=20 problems stemming from mistreatment in childhood are = re-enacted=20 later in life in order to understand the underlying = conflicts and=20 thus improve the efficiency of the human = organism. 13) Verbal=20 abuse is more frequently transgenerational than physical or = sexual=20 abuse, possibly because it becomes ego syntonic. 14) = The most=20 important causes of mistreatment, as determined by a = stepwise=20 regression analysis of the 66 factors we considered, were = husband=20 not being supportive, lack of breast feeding, and pregnancy=20 losses. In a=20 multi-centre, trans-cultural study of the impact of = pregnancy loss=20 on health [8] we have found that: 1) All = kinds of=20 unmourned pregnancy losses interfere with physical and = emotional=20 health, probably because prolonged grief suppresses the = immune=20 system. 2) = Abortion=20 appears to be a more difficult type of pregnancy loss to = mourn and=20 thus it has a more deleterious impact on health. 3) The = rates of=20 miscarriage and abortion are closely correlated with the = amount of=20 partner support. 4) The = damaging=20 effects of pregnancy losses are cumulative. 5) If = the=20 numbers of abortions are subtracted from teenage = pregnancies, the=20 14-19 year old group has as many full term, normal birth = weight,=20 healthy babies as any other age group. 6) The = factor=20 that seems to determine a high number of abortions in = teenagers is=20 their very low rate of partner support. 7) = Abortion=20 interferes with bonding, touching and breast feeding the = child after=20 an abortion. We = hypothesise=20 that: 1) = Some apparent=20 connection between wantedness and child abuse is = post-hoc. =20 People associate the memory of abuse with the feeling that = they were=20 neglected, and were therefore unwanted as = children. 2) Any = connection between child abuse and unwantedness is dependant = on the=20 common variable of partner support which determines = both. 3) = wanting=20 children may contribute to the problem of mistreatment=20 because: a) = Higher=20 expectations are placed on them. Therefore, they are more=20 disappointing and more frequently disciplined. b) = Being a=20 chosen or wanted child creates a great burden for him or=20 her. c) = Being a=20 wanted child, surviving when others do not, results in a = clinical=20 syndrome with a definable constellation of signs and=20 symptoms. d) It = encourages=20 selective feticide, which raises in the mind of a child = doubts about=20 his/her existence and his/her parents' capacity to love=20 him/her. 4) When=20 children doubt or mistrust their parents, it makes parenting = more=20 difficult. As = part of an=20 ongoing study of the causes and effects of childhood = mistreatment,=20 we have been collecting data on children in a variety of = settings.=20 These include two private child psychiatric practices, a = young=20 offenders' centre, a psychiatric unit for children and = adolescents,=20 and a regular high school. We have also collected data = from=20 adults mistreated as children and from parents of mistreated = children. Visual analogue scale (v.a.s.) ratings of = children=20 and adults on themselves and each other, plus ratings = provided by=20 the ward staff, were used to assess the frequency, duration, = intensity, self blame, damaging effect, etc., of = mistreatment. =20 The v.a.s. were tested for validity and reliability and = found to be=20 satisfactory. We found the v.a.s. questions are easier = to=20 answer as they are able to reflect the full continuum of=20 mistreatment. There are additional questions answered with a = brief=20 statement. The data is coded and analysed at the Academic = Computing=20 Services of the University of Calgary. Table = 1=20 indicates that wantedness changes during the pregnancy and = is lowest=20 in the first trimester. It appears that wantedness is = not=20 related to the extent of abuse. Table 2 indicates that = abuse=20 and wantedness are related to the amount of spousal = support. =20 Tables 3 and 4 show the relationship between wantedness and = child=20 abuse and support of the partner and child abuse. It appears = that=20 wantedness is more closely correlated with neglect and = neglect with=20 partner support. Figures 1 and 2=20 indicate the three most important causes, from the child's = point of=20 view, of his mistreatment. It appears that children = most=20 frequently ascribe immaturity of parents as the most = important=20 cause. Table 5 indicates that mothers who have had = abortions=20 more frequently respond with anxiety, anger, sadness, or=20 helplessness to a child's cry to different types of=20 mistreatment. Physical neglect seems to correlate = closely with=20 mother's helpless response to the child's cry. Table = 6 shows=20 the results of a stepwise regression analysis of the 66 = factors=20 considered as possibly related to mistreatment. It = indicates=20 that, among the most prevalent factors, lack of breast = feeding, lack=20 of supportive husband, and losses are among the most = important=20 causes. Table = 7 shows=20 the correlation between the amount of touch and breast=20 feeding. Table 8 shows the connections between how = cuddly a=20 child is and how often it may be mistreated. Table 9 = indicates=20 the connection between childhood mistreatment and marital=20 status. Single parents are more likely to abuse or = neglect=20 their children. Table = 10 shows=20 the distribution of responses to the questions "how well has = your=20 mother or father looked after you?" and "how was your=20 childhood?" Table 11 indicates factors determined by a = stepwise analysis of variants associated with more or less=20 abuse. Family break-up and parental maturity appear to = be=20 considered important causes. Discussion* It = appears that=20 everybody is ambivalent about everything almost all of the=20 time. This universal expression of undecidedness is = possibly=20 an expression of freedom of choice. The ambivalence is = most=20 prominent during crisis (Kairos), a critical time of = potential=20 change. Pregnancy is such a crisis. It necessitates an = expansion of the whole system into which the developing = infant is=20 placed. The mother's body must expand to accommodate = the=20 growing baby. Similarly her mind must grow to incorporate = another=20 entity. This Crisis of Incorporation involves every member = of the=20 family and the family's network. Because the mother is = a key=20 figure, she must be supported, otherwise her ambivalence = about=20 deciding for herself or for her infant and family becomes=20 heightened. Without support, this Survival Dilemma = tilts=20 toward narcissism, and thus the infant, seen as a parasite, = is=20 destroyed. Abortion appears=20 to have a greater impact than other types of pregnancy = losses. =20 It results in more prolonged grief; possibly because of the = greater=20 turmoil regarding the continuation of the pregnancy, and = possibly=20 because abortions are more difficult to mourn. = Grieving an=20 abortion may be more difficult for a woman = because: 1) She = has=20 contributed to the loss she must now = grieve. 2) She = does not=20 have an opportunity to hold and examine her baby's body and = thus=20 cannot incorporate the baby into her being. 3) She = has=20 dehumanised the infant and rejected part of herself the baby = represents. 4) Her = grief is=20 not supposed to be a real event, even though she feels the = loss in=20 her mind and body. 5) = Friends and=20 relatives tend to make her feel uncomfortable for wanting to = talk=20 about this particular kind of loss. 6) = There are few=20 professionals interested in talking about pregnancy losses=20 (particularly those from abortion) and even fewer who are = trained to=20 do it. Apart from=20 poor bonding, lack of breastfeeding and increased risk of=20 mistreatment, children who are abortion survivors may also = suffer=20 from survivor guilt, existential anxiety, anxious = attachment,=20 pseudo-secret collusion, distrust, self doubt, and = ontological=20 guilt. These conflicts and symptoms may be expressed through = intense=20 anger in the following ways and for the following=20 reasons: 1.anger at their=20 parents because their existence is dangled on the end of the = weak=20 thread of wantedness. 2.they = have no=20 sense of intrinsic worth and therefore others are not=20 worthy. 3.they = feel=20 there is no right for them to exist, so no one else has that = right=20 either, especially if one is not wanted. It is not = hard to=20 create the impression that people are less than human, and = therefore=20 not wanted. Terms used in the Press, e.g. "rightists," = first=20 progressively dehumanises children and consequently makes it = easy to=20 terminate them. 4.they = re-enact=20 their own early surviving by a thread by endangering = themselves=20 repeatedly. 5.with = all their=20 questions about their own existence, they use self injury to = reassure themselves they are still alive. "Pain and = blood show=20 that I am alive." 6.because the=20 existential anxiety is so great, they cannot tolerate = waiting for=20 the worst so they tend to make it happen before it happens = to=20 them. 7.they = are told=20 by parents who have had an abortion to be careful, so they = want to=20 break out and become carefree. Children=20 also feel anger because: 1.they = are being=20 deprived of the security they needed in order to = develop. =20 Therefore they seek to establish their own security by = possessing=20 knives and guns and karate. 2.they = take on=20 their parents' guilt to relieve their parents' = distress. 3.they = do=20 abortions literally or figuratively on themselves because it = is too=20 threatening to believe their parent did it. 4.they = tend to=20 dehumanise their siblings and defend their = parents. 5.they = want to=20 bond to their siblings, because in unstable families = siblings=20 become important, but they are afraid that sibling might = still be=20 terminated by murderous parents. Therefore, their = bonding=20 tends toward forming gangs. 6.there is=20 unresolved grief for their dead sibling. This produces = depression, which they attempt to treat with drugs and = dangerous=20 distraction. 7.there is a=20 rage at their impotent father who should have protected=20 them. 8.they = deny the=20 mothering and fathering capacities within themselves and, if = they=20 become pregnant, promote abortions. Conclusion To = produce only=20 wanted children compounds the problems of child abuse and = neglect=20 because: 1) = Most wanted=20 children know they have survived when unborn, unwanted = siblings did=20 not. This leaves them affected by a constellation of = conflicts=20 which result in existential guilt, a sense of impending = doom,=20 difficulties in making attachments and commitments, self = doubt and=20 hopelessness. These factors affect all the surviving = siblings=20 in a family. It is more difficult for survivors to desire = children=20 to nurture and guide. 2) = Wanted=20 children are not considered by society to be intrinsically = worthy of=20 being alive. Because they have no intrinsic sense of = worth,=20 they do not value others or see any reason to conserve the=20 environment for future generations. They tend to = become=20 hedonistic and self-destructive with less concern for their=20 neighbours. 3) It = is=20 impossible to carefully consider all the critical issues = during the=20 first few months of an untimely pregnancy when attempting to = make a=20 rational choice. Mothers are not likely to obtain = informed=20 consent. Therefore the question to continue or not to = continue=20 the pregnancy tends be decided on the basis of "rights", or = how the=20 mother feels at the moment, or coercion. Often she is = swayed=20 by self-interested people. 4) = Insisting on=20 every child being wanted, which can only be determined by = the=20 mother, diminishes the amount of partner support. Partners = are not=20 likely to become attached to an unborn baby when they know = he/she=20 could be terminated without their awareness or consent at = any=20 time. No one makes an attachment when there is a = possibility=20 of having to face a painful loss. Partners who have no right = to=20 restrain a woman from aborting their baby feel helpless. = This=20 results in anger and a rejection of the spouse which = increases the=20 chance she will have an abortion. 5) = Wanted=20 children are more likely to be mistreated because they tend = to have=20 higher expectations placed on them and consequently are more = disappointing. Wanted children may be given many tools = and=20 toys, but the neglect makes them more vulnerable and = susceptible to=20 abuse. References 1. Ney=20 PG. "Child Abuse and Abortion" JCPA,1979. 2.Ney = P.G.,=20 Moore C., McPhee J. & Trought P. "Child = abuse: A=20 study of the child's perspective." Child Abuse Negl., = 511-518,=20 1986. 3.Ney = PG. "Does=20 Verbal Abuse Leave Deeper Scars: A Study of Children & = Parents",=20 Can J Psychiatry 371-378, 1987. 4.Ney, = PG.=20 "Transgenerational Child Abuse", Child Psychiatry Hum Dev, = 151-168,=20 1988. 5.Ney = PG.=20 "Triangles of Child Abuse: A Model of Maltreatment", Child = Abuse=20 Negl 363-373, 1988. 6.Ney = PG. "Child=20 Mistreatment: Possible Reasons for its Transgenerational=20 Transmission", Can J Psychiatry 594-601, 1989. 7.Ney = PG. Fung=20 T. Wickett AR. "Child Neglect: The Precursor to Child=20 Abuse", Pre- and Perinatal Psychology J, 95-112,=20 1993. 8.Ney = PG. Fung=20 T. Wickett AR. Beaman-Dodd C. "The Effects of Pregnancy Loss = on=20 Women's Health", Soc Sci Med 38(9), 1193-1200, = 1994.