History Main / AbusiveParents

* AbusiveParents/WebOriginal

* AbusiveParents/WebVideo

When the abused child in question grows up and starts their own family, they will sometimes bow not to make the same mistakes their parents did with them and will try to treat their own children better with the hopes of BreakingTheCycleOfBadParenting. The psychological damage of abusive parenting can lead to ConditionedToBeWeak, where the abused child is too scared of their abuser to retaliate so they just follow orders to avoid their wrath.

When the abused child in question grows up and starts their own family, they will sometimes bow not to make the same mistakes their parents did with them and will try to treat their own children better with the hopes of BreakingTheCycleOfBadParenting.

Unfortunately, Abusive Parents are TruthInTelevision and a very sensitive topic for many, so Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease - It is sufficient to say [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse they do exist]] and that they are also too common.

If a parent has just dumped the child, for whatever reason, that's ParentalAbandonment; if they aren't paying attention, that's ParentalNeglect. If the parents refuse to discipline their kids, they are PushoverParents. Contrast MamaBear (where ''others'' abuse the children and the parents abuse the abusers), PapaWolf (same), the more extreme variant of KnightTemplarParent (where the abusive parent is violently overprotective) and AbusiveOffspring (where the children are abusive to their parents). AbusivePrecursors can be considered this, on a metaphorical level. See HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood for when this is [[ExaggeratedTrope cranked up to absurd levels]] and PlayedForLaughs. BlackComedy is often connected in the comedic aspect of it, and a BigScrewedUpFamily may be involved if it is adult comedy. In keeping with the above note, some may call the show on it and say DudeNotFunny. See EvilMatriarch and ArchnemesisDad for characters who are beyond ''abusive'' and outright ''evil''. Abusive-type parents are mostly [[NotoriousParent wanted criminals being chased by the law]]. For grandparents who abuse their grandchildren, see GruesomeGrandparent.

Abusive Parents are commonplace in {{fairy tale}}s and Myth/ClassicalMythology which makes this trope OlderThanFeudalism. Note that Creator/TheBrothersGrimm, when they collected European fairy tales, were uncomfortable with the idea of Abusive Parents and so frequently changed the Abusive Parents in the traditional stories into abusive [[WickedStepmother step parents]].

Unfortunately, Abusive Parents are TruthInTelevision and a very sensitive topic for many, so Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease - It is sufficient to say [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse they do exist]] and that they are also NoRealLife/TooCommon.

** Greek mortals abuse their children just as often in myth. For example, Echetus gouged out his daughter's eyes, chained her in a cellar, and made her grind iron chunks to dust. Acrisius locked his daughter Danae in solitary confinement to prevent her from having children, and then threw her in a box and dumped her in the sea when she got pregnant from Zeus. Mythical women suffer various physical punishments and sometimes death for getting pregnant out of wedlock, even when they were raped. Beating kids barely even gets mentioned in Classical Greece, except when someone like comedian Creator/{{Aristophanes}} mocks moral relativists by depicting them as opposed to beating them.

Bear in mind that [[SlidingScaleOfParentShamingInFiction not everyone agrees on the line between actual abuse and merely heavy-handed parenting]] (or even ''normal'' parenting). Is MovingTheGoalposts merely inspiring the child to achieve more, or the most insidious form of abuse to instill mistrust and paranoia in the children? Some include [[DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff spanking]] as abuse; others think it's appropriate given certain guidelines. Some believe it's okay to make a kid go without a meal (they won't starve that easily); others disagree. Making a kid miss a friend's birthday sleepover -- is that ''emotional'' abuse? Raising a kid without exposure to TV? Telling your daughter she's getting fat? A little name-calling? There's a line here somewhere, but not everyone agrees on where it is.[[note]]Although, it should be said that the examples listed here and in other places that correspond to the "line" would be considered "disrespectful", ''especially'' [[{{MoralMyopia}} by the parents]], if a child had done it to them or other adults (a parent hitting their kid is considered discipline in some circles, [[{{Hypocrite}} but "disrespect" if vice versa is done)]], although because of children being seen as sub-human by majority of society, this is never taken into account by some and flat-out ignored by others.[[/note]]

* AbusiveParents/{{Advertising}}

*** While no details about how Blitzo was treated are shown, what little is shown doesn’t paint a rosy picture of his father Cash Buckzo: Not only did he seem to favor Blitzo’s friend Fizzarolli over him, he valued his own son so little that he was willing to rent him out as Stolas’s playdate for a day for ''[[ComicallySmallBribe five bucks and a condom.]]'' He also strong-armed the young boy into using the opportunity to steal valuable items from the Goetia manor by guilt-tripping and subtly threatening him.
*** Stolas’s father Paimon is of the [[ParentalNeglect neglectful]] variety; He can’t remember Stolas’s name because he has “so fucking many” children, shows NoSympathy for Stolas’s tearful reaction to discovering that he’s [[ArrangedMarriage betrothed]] to [[EnfantTerrible Stella]], can’t be bothered to attend the titular circus in person despite offering to take Stolas there and [[DopeSlap hits his son in the head]] for politely bowing to Blitzo when greeting him just because Blitzo is of a lower social standing. Interestingly, Paimon seems to be [[ObliviouslyEvil genuinely unaware of how shitty a father he is]], as immediately after hitting Stolas, he praises himself for being “so good at daddying”.
** “Exes And Oohs” introduces [[MafiaPrincess Moxxie’s]] [[TheDon mob boss]] father Crimson, and hoo boy: Of the fathers shown so far, he not only takes the cake, but also the plate, server and table it was served on. Despite tricking I.M.P into coming to the Greed Ring for some ”business dealings” with his son, [[AffablyEvil he seems affable enough at first]], treating them to dinner and offering them rooms for the night. (Though Moxxie’s ''[[{{OhCrap}} viscerally]]'' [[RapidFireNo negative]] reaction to finding out where they’ve been taken and general discomfort [[{{Foreshadowing}} are some pretty big red flags]]) As soon as they’re alone, though, [[FauxAffablyEvil Crimson shows his true colors;]] He slaps Moxxie so hard that the younger imp is thrown off his feet, reveals that the ”business deal” involves [[ArrangedMarriage forcing him to marry is ex-boyfriend]] [[DepravedBisexual Chaz]], ignoring the fact that Moxxie is already HappilyMarried, just so that Crimson can get access to Chaz’s [[spoiler: non-existent]] assets, and threatens to have both Moxxie and Millie killed if Moxxie doesn’t comply. [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain He’s also shown to be homophobic and sexist]], (Again, the only reason he’s arranging the marriage is because he wants Chaz’s money) [[NoBisexuals and he refuses to accept his son’s bisexuality]], accusing him of using Millie as TheBeard. And when Moxxie finally [[CallingTheOldManOut stands up to him]], [[spoiler: he has his right-hand man knock Moxxie unconscious, [[DraggedIntoDrag forces him into a wedding dress]], [[BoundAndGagged ties him up and gags him]] to forcefully marry him off.]] A flashback shows that [[ChildrenForcedToKill he was forcing Moxxie to execute people]] [[HarmfulToMinors at an age where he could barely use a knife and fork]], and when the boy hesitated to give some poor sap the CementShoes treatment, Crimson slammed his head into the cinderblock and threatened to drown him, too, should he ever disobey him. He’s also shown [[DomesticAbuse to have been abusive to his wife]], and he ultimately ''killed'' her for opposing his cruelty [[MamaBear and trying to protect Moxxie from him.]]

* ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'': [[BumblingDad Pop]] usually gets his son Cub killed or injured due to obliviousness, but he's lapsed into this tertiary on a few occasions, including whenever he [[PapaWolf tries to save him from certain death]]. For instance, hammering a nail into Cub's face to hide it, yanking him out of a kitchen sink by tying a rope around his neck and car, intentionally breaking off his spine, etc. He killed Cub on purpose once even, in was a last-ditch effort [[ItMakesSenseInContext to finish off a demon inside him]] (which unknown to him, had already been liberated by then). One early draft of an episode even had Pop intentionally setting Cub's dead body on fire to dispose of his corspe.

* ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'': [[BumblingDad Pop]] is a downplayed example of this, but he's lapsed into this tertiary on a few occasions. For instance, hammering a nail into Cub's face to hide it, yanking him out of a kitchen sink by tying a rope around his neck and car, intentionally breaking off his spine, etc. He killed Cub on purpose once even, though to be fair, it was a last-ditch effort [[ItMakesSenseInContext to kill a demon inside him]]. One early draft of an episode even had Pop intentionally setting Cub's dead body on fire to dispose of his corspe.

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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abusive_parents.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[{{Catchphrase}} WHY, YOU LITTLE--!]]"'']]

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** AbusiveParents/TheDCU
** AbusiveParents/MarvelUniverse

** AbusiveParents/MarvelUniverse

** AbusiveParents/MarvelUniverse

** AbusiveParents/MarvelUniverse

** AbusiveParents/MarvelCinematicUniverse

** AbusiveParents/MarvelCinematicUniverse

** AbusiveParents/MarvelCinematicUniverse:

** AbusiveParents/MarvelCinematicUniverse:

The polar opposite, of course, is GoodParents. Also not to be confused with PranksterParent, who plays harmless jokes on their kids without intending to hurt them.

The polar opposite, of course, is GoodParents.

If a parent has just dumped the child, for whatever reason, that's ParentalAbandonment; if they aren't paying attention, that's ParentalNeglect. If the parents refuse to discipline their kids, they are PushoverParents. Contrast MamaBear or PapaWolf (where ''others'' abuse the children and the parents abuse the abusers), and the more extreme variant of KnightTemplarParent, where the abusive parent is violently overprotective. Also contrast AbusiveOffspring, where the children are abusive to their parents. AbusivePrecursors can be considered this, on a metaphorical level. See HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood for when this is [[ExaggeratedTrope cranked up to absurd levels]] and PlayedForLaughs. BlackComedy is often connected in the comedic aspect of it, and a BigScrewedUpFamily may be involved if it is adult comedy. In keeping with the above note, some may call the show on it and say DudeNotFunny. See EvilMatriarch and ArchnemesisDad for characters who are beyond ''abusive'' and outright ''evil''. Abusive-type parents are mostly [[NotoriousParent wanted criminals being chased by the law]]. For grandparents who abuse their grandchildren, see GruesomeGrandparent.

--->'''Vincent''': ''(Into the mic)'' Good, because I have one last opportunity- ''(further away, [[IsThisThingStillOn but still audible via mic]])'' to give you a [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] beating.