What type of abuse involves severe mental injury or sexual exploitation of a minor?

The correct choice is grounded in the specific definitions used in the context of Pennsylvania laws regarding child welfare. Child abuse encompasses a range of harmful behaviors towards a minor, including physical harm, mental injury, and sexual exploitation. In Pennsylvania, child abuse is defined more comprehensively than just physical assault; it specifically includes actions that cause severe mental injury or exploit a child sexually.

In instances of severe mental injury, a child may suffer from emotional and psychological damage due to emotional abuse, neglect, or other forms of inappropriate treatment. Additionally, sexual exploitation represents acts where a minor is used for sexual purposes, which clearly falls under the umbrella of child abuse as defined by legal standards in Pennsylvania.

Understanding these definitions is essential for identifying when an act constitutes child abuse, as opposed to other forms of mistreatment such as child neglect, which primarily refers to the failure to provide necessary care. Emotional abuse, while it can lead to severe mental injury, is typically classified under the broader category of child abuse rather than being considered a separate type in legal frameworks. Parental alienation, while harmful, relates more to the dynamics between parents and does not directly pertain to the child's injury or exploitation as defined in child abuse statutes.