What is Abuse?
Any action becomes abusive when the law is on the side of victim. Abuse is when a person tries to unfairly control or gain benefit from other person. Abuse happens in many ways.
There are various types of abuse which affects the victim in one way or other. Some of the common types of abuse are: physical abuse, mental abuse, verbal or emotional abuse, cultural abuse etc. Physical abuse is when a person forcefully hit other person. Mental abuse is when someone’s mental health is hampered by series of actions or words.
Emotional abuse is when a person is made question his/her own way of living. These type of abuse are silent killers, as they have no visible scars but takes longer to heal. Law have strict rule against all types of abuse. If any person is feeling exploited or abused in any form, law has power to protect the victim and their rights.
Sometimes children are abused for sake of making them disciplined. Parents cross their lines and hit their children physically or mentally torture them unintentionally which is wrong in eyes of law. There are other ways of communicating and teaching their children the difference between right and wrong. Discipline can be taught to children without hurting them.
Children should not feel fearful to share any problems in their life with parents. Parents should make children comfortable with them. Sometimes parents emotionally abuse their children by constantly humiliating them and forcing them for something like scoring good marks. These has a very bad impact on child’s brain. Good parenting is something that every child deserves. Parents should be the biggest support of their children.
What is Discipline?
Discipline is the training of mind and body to have control over actions. It is the practice of making a habit to obey rules. Discipline can also be defined as having maximum self-control over mind and body.
Discipline is something required in every field of life. Discipline is a crucial part of achieving a goal. Discipline makes oneself consistent. It also gives the power to avoid all distractions around us and stay focused. For example:
- A sportsperson needs to be very disciplined and consistent if he wants to perform well. Getting up in the morning, doing training and practice, following diet etc. all requires discipline.
- A student needs to be very disciplined to score good marks. Preparing and following a timetable, and thoroughly revising lessons everyday is only possible with having discipline.
- A soldier in army has to follow a very strict routine and be very disciplined in order to maintain their health and do all the task.
There is a misconception among people that punishing children makes them discipline. Giving punishment to make them discipline can be abusive sometime and have a very adverse effect on their mental health. Discipline can be brought in children by guiding them sincerely, communicating about right and wrong and making them understand the perspective good for them.
Discipline can be taught by making the child understand the difference between right and wrong and importance of discipline. If children are aware about how discipline can help them become a better person in future they will become self-disciplined without their parents forcing them to be one.
Difference Between Abuse and Discipline
- Abusing is when it involves harming and torturing a person. Teaching discipline is teaching a very important value required further in life.
- Abusing is done out of anger and hate. While discipline has a good intention of teaching life value.
- Abusing is done to create terror. While discipline is taught for child’s better life.
- Abusing humiliates the person. On the other hand discipline gives confidence and makes a person fearless
- Abusing ceases confidence, while discipline gives confidence.
- Abusing takes away the freedom and make them fearful. While discipline makes a person affectionate and happy.
- Abuse leads to terror and unstable mental health. Discipline leads to mutual respect.
Comparison Between Abuse and Discipline
| Parameters | Abuse | Discipline |
| Meaning | Harming a person physically or unfairly controlling them | Training of mind and body to have control over actions |
| According to law | It is a criminal offense and not accepted by law | It is accepted by law if done in a harmless way |
| Motive | Punishment | Learning |
| Impact on life | Adverse and bad effect on life | Good habits and healthy life |
| Result | Fear, unstable mental health and terror | Affection, mutual respect and good habits |