Question

Abused children more readily perceive _______ in a series of human faces than children who haven’t experienced abuse.

Answer 1

Abused children are more attuned to perceive anger in human faces, possibly due to changes in the amygdala and the psychological effects of their experiences. This sensitivity to anger can be part of the larger set of challenges and mental health issues that arise from child abuse, which not only affects the individuals involved but also society at large.

Step-by-step explanation:

Abused children more readily perceive anger in a series of human faces than children who haven’t experienced abuse. This is likely due to alterations in the brain's structure and function as a result of trauma. High-stress environments and negative experiences, such as abuse, have been shown to impact the function of the amygdala, a region of the brain that is involved in emotional processing.

Moreover, the long-term effects of child abuse include a range of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, which may also contribute to the heightened perception of anger. Victims of abuse are at a greater risk for a number of behavioral and emotional challenges, and this increased sensitivity to anger in facial expressions could be a survival mechanism they've developed.

The research on this topic underscores the broader societal consequences of child abuse, as the immediate and long-term impacts extend beyond the individual to affect health care, education, and criminal justice systems. It emphasizes the need for increased support and intervention for affected individuals to mitigate these negative outcomes.

Answer 2

Maltreated children show heightened ability to identify fearful faces, evidenced by faster reaction times relative to controls.

Step-by-step explanation:

Maltreated children displayed faster reaction times than controls when labeling emotional facial expressions, and this result was most pronounced for fearful faces. Relative to children who were not maltreated, maltreated children both with and without PTSD showed enhanced response times when identifying fearful faces. There was no group difference in labeling of emotions when identifying different facial emotions.