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In studying the experience of the abused child, we are involved specifically in looking
for the state of this child's affective world of experience, his cognitive world of
experience and how he gives meaning to this experience. In other words, we are
concerned here with the relation between his affective and cognitive experiences or
the stability, order and control in his cognitive and affective experiences (Sonnekus
1977: 60).
Experiencing things is a way of giving meaning to the world around us and this can be
effected at three different levels (affective, cognitive, normative). In describing
experience in the life-world of the abused child the following is meant: Experiencing
things is a way of expressing oneself through which something essential about one's
life-world becomes manifest. In other words without experiencing, one's life-world
cannot be built up, cannot be comprehended, cannot be contemplated at all. It is
through the child's numerous experiences of reality (world ofexperience) that his own
unique life-world comes into being (Pretorius 1972 : 11). A study of the abused child's
world of experience implies learning about what he experiences and how he
experiences his world and the meaning that he attaches to it.
While it is evident therefore that there is no more significant concept on the basis of
which one can give complete expression to man's total involvement in the world than
experience, the following statement by Van den Berg (Urbani 1982 : 34) is most
applicable as far as an understanding of an abused child's experience is concerned:
"Who wants to become acquainted with man, should listen to the language spoken by
the things in his existence. Who wants to describe man, should make an analysis of the
'landscape' within which he demonstrates, explains and reveals himself".
Since man is essentially a being related to other beings it stands to reason that one can
only understand his experience by studying him in his relationship with himself, others,
the things around him and God. It is important to bear in mind that all of man's
experiences and therefore also those of the abused child take place within
relationships. A distinction should be made between the following: