The trial of Casey Anthony is a study in why it is often so difficult to properly diagnose mental illness.
Anyone who is at all familiar with the case of the "Tot Mom" who allegedly killed her two year old daughter Caylee and for 31 days carried on a life of a party girl, already believes her to be a pathological liar. Now that she has gone to trial (for her life), her defense is claiming that Caylee's death was an accident and because Casey had been sexually abused and therefore "taught" to lie, this explains her behavior.
Most experts are not buying the defense's claims. Although it is true that sexual abuse victims do not always talk about it and many do seek to numb their pain through substance abuse, there is enough reason to be confused when it comes to Casey Anthony.
A psychopathic personality can appear to be a victim but that is also the characteristic of a narcissistic personality. Not accepting blame for their own actions they can claim abuse as a reason for their actions.
Many people get annoyed by defendents who "use" sexual abuse as their excuse for bad behavior. Although the battered woman or sexual abuse victim defense is true in some cases, it often does not work because of the woman's actions.
Children are affected by how they are raised. A child who is taught to lie, for example, will grow up to be an effective liar.
When a sexual abuse victim lies, it is the kind of lie that is meant to protect their dirty little secret. A victim of sexual abuse can be made to feel guilty by their abuser or told that no one will believe them. It is not usual for a victim of sexual abuse to become sexually promiscuous. There is also a fear that a victim has and that causes them to lie.
In Casey Anthony's case, there is too much there to believe that she is a victim of sexual abuse. I do believe that life in the Anthony household was dysfunctional but is it really an excuse for her behavior?
Casey Anthony could simply be an overindulged young woman who perhaps was affected by her dysfunctional upbringing but not sexually abused.
A defense attorney's job is to defend his client. Using a defense that points fingers and accuses people of sexual abuse can damage someone's life and reputation forever.
With so many of the characteristics of an abuse victim mirroring other conditions, it takes a very thorough evaluation to determine the truth. This takes time. Like diagnosing many mental illnesses like bipolar or schizophrenia, emotional disorders can mimick other conditions.
Sexual abuse of a child is a horrendous crime. For a victim, healing can be life-long. To use sexual abuse as a defense for a child murderer hurts true victims of this crime. It can make it harder for them to come forward or to trust that they will get justice for the crime committed against them.
Anyone who is at all familiar with the case of the "Tot Mom" who allegedly killed her two year old daughter Caylee and for 31 days carried on a life of a party girl, already believes her to be a pathological liar. Now that she has gone to trial (for her life), her defense is claiming that Caylee's death was an accident and because Casey had been sexually abused and therefore "taught" to lie, this explains her behavior.
Most experts are not buying the defense's claims. Although it is true that sexual abuse victims do not always talk about it and many do seek to numb their pain through substance abuse, there is enough reason to be confused when it comes to Casey Anthony.
A psychopathic personality can appear to be a victim but that is also the characteristic of a narcissistic personality. Not accepting blame for their own actions they can claim abuse as a reason for their actions.
Many people get annoyed by defendents who "use" sexual abuse as their excuse for bad behavior. Although the battered woman or sexual abuse victim defense is true in some cases, it often does not work because of the woman's actions.
Children are affected by how they are raised. A child who is taught to lie, for example, will grow up to be an effective liar.
When a sexual abuse victim lies, it is the kind of lie that is meant to protect their dirty little secret. A victim of sexual abuse can be made to feel guilty by their abuser or told that no one will believe them. It is not usual for a victim of sexual abuse to become sexually promiscuous. There is also a fear that a victim has and that causes them to lie.
In Casey Anthony's case, there is too much there to believe that she is a victim of sexual abuse. I do believe that life in the Anthony household was dysfunctional but is it really an excuse for her behavior?
Casey Anthony could simply be an overindulged young woman who perhaps was affected by her dysfunctional upbringing but not sexually abused.
A defense attorney's job is to defend his client. Using a defense that points fingers and accuses people of sexual abuse can damage someone's life and reputation forever.
With so many of the characteristics of an abuse victim mirroring other conditions, it takes a very thorough evaluation to determine the truth. This takes time. Like diagnosing many mental illnesses like bipolar or schizophrenia, emotional disorders can mimick other conditions.
Sexual abuse of a child is a horrendous crime. For a victim, healing can be life-long. To use sexual abuse as a defense for a child murderer hurts true victims of this crime. It can make it harder for them to come forward or to trust that they will get justice for the crime committed against them.
I have followed this case since it has begun and there is no way that I believe that she was sexually abused. She may have come from a dysfunctional family, many of us have a childhood that was dysfunctional but we overcome it and we do not kill our children. Casey Anthony got pregnant too young but again many young women have children in their teens; however they do not resort to violence, murder. Her abuse is drug related and it was due to her free will.
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