Which emotional behavior might be observed in a child experiencing abuse?

A child experiencing abuse may exhibit aggressive or withdrawn behavior due to the psychological and emotional impact of their experiences. Victims of abuse often struggle to express their feelings in healthy ways, leading to increased aggression toward others or withdrawal from social interactions as coping mechanisms. The trauma associated with abuse can manifest in various emotional responses, including heightened anxiety, fear, and confusion, causing the child to act out or isolate themselves.

In contrast, a consistently happy demeanor and high self-esteem are generally not characteristic of children dealing with abuse, as the negative effects of such trauma typically inhibit positive emotional expression and self-worth. Similarly, avoidance of group activities, while potentially a behavior of some children facing abuse, is more specifically tied to social withdrawal rather than the duality of aggressive and withdrawn behaviors that can coexist as a response to the trauma.