Experts warn of psychological impact of violence against minors

A video circulating on social media has raised alarm in Panama, depicting a mother exhibiting extreme anger, shouting, and striking her son outside an educational center. The footage shows the mother attempting to take the child, who reportedly attended school without the required uniform. Visibly distressed, the mother attempts to explain to the boy that his behavior has been a recurring issue, ultimately losing control due to accumulated frustration.

Psychologist César Pérez emphasized that such incidents necessitate intervention for both the child and the parent. "We must establish a model of parenting with limits, with closeness, but not leave it until the last minute," Pérez stated. "I feel for the boy, I feel for the mother, but logically both are wrong in their conduct." He highlighted the importance of setting boundaries early in child-rearing to prevent conflicts from reaching a point where parents lose control.

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We must establish a model of parenting with limits, with closeness, but not leave it until the last minute. I feel for the boy, I feel for the mother, but logically both are wrong in their conduct.

Sociologist José Lasso noted that individuals who resort to physical discipline often replicate patterns from their own upbringing, sometimes unconsciously repeating them when facing frustration. "Definitely, it is not correct, in any measure, these acts of violence that put the child in a very difficult situation of reproducing violence, because that child will reproduce that violence, and perhaps she is reproducing what she experienced in her time," Lasso explained.

Experts caution that physical violence is an ineffective corrective tool and can lead to consequences extending beyond the immediate aggression. Publicly shaming a minor can inflict feelings of shame, humiliation, rejection, and invalidation. This combination can deepen the emotional repercussions of the episode. Specialists advise using dialogue, establishing clear limits, and seeking professional guidance for recurring conflicts to prevent violence from becoming a household pattern.

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Definitely, it is not correct, in any measure, these acts of violence that put the child in a very difficult situation of reproducing violence, because that child will reproduce that violence, and perhaps she is reproducing what she experienced in her time.