VANESSA ABIEYUWA EDOKPAYI

This study focuses on assessment of the psychological effect of child abuse in Benin City, Edo State. This study adopted the survey design through which data were collected from a sample of 100 respondents. The data was analyse using simple percentage technique. The result shows that there is relationship between child abuse and psychological development problem in children and it also revealed that child abuse influences children psychological health related problems during adolescent and adulthood. The study recommended that parents and all relevant stakeholders as well as care givers should be careful about their interactions with children. They need to use empirically-driven behavioural modification techniques that are proven to positively shape behaviour. Physical abuse (e.g. spanking) and psychological “torture” for example ridicule of children should avoided, shaping and other effective methods of changing behavior should be adopted. Child and Social Protection in Edo State should takeproactive measures to control the incidence of physical and psychological child abuse in Edo. The Government should establish functional legal policies that can be used to reduce or prevent physical child abuse; educate the people, affective training, as well as attitudinal change may be effective control measures against psychological child abuse.