Types of abuse
"Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons." (No Secrets, DH, 2000)
Click on the following sections for examples, signs, indicators and risk factors.
Physical abuse is the non-accidental use of force that may, or may not, result in bodily injury, pain or impairment.
The term sexual abuse covers more than sexual assault, i.e. rape, incest, indecent assault or gross indecency, it also includes the direct or indirect involvement of people in sexual activity without their consent. This incorporates situations where the individuals involved cannot understand what is happening or have been coerced by people in a position of trust, power or authority.
Emotional or psychological abuse including bullying
Psychological/emotional abuse includes a range of non-physical controlling behaviours that cause emotional damage/mental distress and undermine a person's sense of well-being/ Psychological and emotional abuse often occurs in relationships where there is a power imbalance resulting in verbal aggression and manipulative behaviour.
Financial abuse is the illegal or unauthorised theft or use of a person's property, money or other valuables. Crimes associated with this type of abuse include theft, undue influence and forgery.
Neglect occurs when a carer or care worker is not providing for a person's safety or physical and/or psychological needs. This can include ignoring medical or physical care needs, or not taking action to alleviate the risk of harm e.g. from falls. It can also include failure to access health, social care or educational services, or withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, food and drink and heating.
Discriminatory abuse is treating a person less favourably, and therefore denying their human and/or civil rights, based solely on class or category, i.e. gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, preferred language, etc. Discriminatory behaviours take many forms, but they all involve some form of exclusion or rejection.
Institutional abuse occurs when an individual's wishes and needs are sacrificed to a smooth running of a group, service or organisation. This could be a hospital, care home or day centre, etc. It involves the mistreatment of people brought about by poor or inadequate care or support and is characterised by systematic poor practice including inappropriate use of rules, rituals, routines and/or restrictive practices. These may all damage a person's right to independence, respect, dignity or choice.
It is not unusual for a person to be abused in more than one way, or one type of abuse may indicate that another is happening. For instance, a person may be bullied, frightened or intimidated and physically abused so that they give their abuser money.
