History Main / WouldHurtAChild

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/HappyFeet https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/happy_feet_disneyscreencapscom_2282_72.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Or a chick in this case.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/HappyFeet https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/happy_feet_disneyscreencapscom_2282_7.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Or a chick in this case.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/HappyFeet https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/happy_feet_disneyscreencapscom_2282_0.jpg]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Or a chick in this case]]

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/HappyFeet https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/happy_feet_disneyscreencapscom_2282_4.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Or a chick in a skua's case.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/HappyFeet https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/happy_feet_disneyscreencapscom_2282_4.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Or a chick in a skua's case.]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/happy_feet_disneyscreencapscom_2282_4.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Or a chick in a skua's case.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Or a chick in a skua's case]]

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Compare and contrast DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff and CorporalPunishment, where the work depicts physical aggression as a way to teach a child discipline, which may or may not be depicted as malicious.

'''Important Note''': This trope is about '''adults physically hurting children, or deliberately placing them in life-threatening situations''', fatally or not. '''The following are not examples''': psychological/verbal abuse ([[AbusiveParents very common]] but [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant not that trope]]), abduction (only applies if the child dies or gets effectively hurt), depriving a child of food (that's DeniedFoodAsPunishment and only counts as this trope if taken to the point where the child is at risk of serious harm from lack of food), child on child violence (that's KidsAreCruel), exploitation for profit by the parents if they aren't hurt (that is FinancialAbuse). Violence to teenagers, with the exception of some of those in their early teens, isn't an example either since teenagers are physically [[TruthInTelevision stronger]] than children and lack the "completely defenseless" element, especially if TeensAreMonsters. However, teenagers harming children applies.

* ''VisualNovel/YourTurnToDie'': The DeadlyGame's organizers threw 3 kids into it alongside the rest of the participants. [[spoiler:One of them is already dead by the time it officially begins, another can die depending depending on your actions, and the last one will almost certainly be scarred for life if he manages to survive.]]

A subtrope of KickTheDog. Frequently a cause of AdultFear. BurnTheOrphanage is a particular form of this. See also ChildHater, who hates kids but isn't necessarily physically abusive and NiceJobBreakingItHerod, which is often an extreme version. If they're not stopped in time by the heroes, this overlaps with DeathOfAChild. Contrast ImprobableInfantSurvival and WouldntHurtAChild. Compare KidsAreCruel, ChildrenAreInnocent. Related to EatsBabies and ChildEater. Usually applies to the SadistTeacher. If a villain who is quite capable of bothering adults prefers to spend his time as an antagonist for kids or teenagers, it's fair to say PickOnSomeoneYourOwnSize. For the role-reversed example of this trope, see DoubleStandardViolenceChildOnAdult, in which case it's a ''child'' physically harming an adult for comedic effect.

!!Examples Subpages:

* [[WouldHurtAChild/AnimatedFilms Film – Animated]]
* [[WouldHurtAChild/LiveActionFilms Film – Live-Action]]

!!Other Examples:

Depending on the portrayal in the work, this is different from [[DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff slapping, spanking and general discipline]] from a parent or guardian to a child (unless the child is at risk of death or serious injury as a result of such discipline), because CorporalPunishment variants are when the adult believes that the action is for the child's ultimate good. The adult thinks the action is in the same category as setting a broken bone: painful in the moment, but ultimately necessary for the child's long term health and development. Would Hurt a Child is when the adult deliberately acts against the child's long-term interests, either from cruelty or pragmatism. The child's welfare simply does not register as a consideration for them.

Depending on ValuesDissonance or the portrayal in the work, this is different from [[DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff slapping, spanking and general discipline]] from a parent or guardian to a child (unless the child is at risk of death or serious injury as a result of such discipline), because CorporalPunishment variants are when the adult believes that the action is for the child's ultimate good. The adult thinks the action is in the same category as setting a broken bone: painful in the moment, but ultimately necessary for the child's long term health and development. Would Hurt a Child is when the adult deliberately acts against the child's long-term interests, either from cruelty or pragmatism. The child's welfare simply does not register as a consideration for them.

'''Important Note''': This trope is about '''adults physically hurting children, or deliberately placing them in life-threatening situations''', fatally or not. '''The following are not examples''': slapping, spanking and general discipline from a parent or guardian to a child (unless the child is at risk of death or serious injury as a result of such discipline, that's DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff), psychological/verbal abuse ([[AbusiveParents very common]] but [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant not that trope]]), abduction (only applies if the child dies or gets effectively hurt), depriving a child of food (that's DeniedFoodAsPunishment and only counts as this trope if taken to the point where the child is at risk of serious harm from lack of food), child on child violence (that's KidsAreCruel), exploitation for profit by the parents if they aren't hurt (that is FinancialAbuse). Violence to teenagers, with the exception of some of those in their early teens, isn't an example either since teenagers are physically [[TruthInTelevision stronger]] than children and lack the "completely defenseless" element, especially if TeensAreMonsters. However, teenagers harming children applies.

[[folder:Web Games]]
* The killer from ''WebGame/FreeIcecream'' abducted [[PlayerCharacter the girl]] and her friend to kill them. [[spoiler:In fact, by the time the game starts, the girl's friend is already dead.]]
[[/folder]]

And want to go all the way? Make the children {{creepy|Child}} or, even better, make them {{Enfant Terrible|}}s and, this time, hurting said children will look much less as a MoralEventHorizon crossing, even though there will always be some MoralGuardians or PapaWolf / MamaBear to complain. This may also be done by a CompleteMonster to establish that even a villain [[EvenEvilHasStandards has lines they won't dare cross]]. Naturally, the FriendToAllChildren sees this type of character as a mortal enemy, unless they are a religious figure such as Jesus, in which case would be taking them to a better place anyhow.