32 pound 10 year old girl rescued from closet in Kansas City. Two other siblings

[laundry_queen]

22. You are correct

It's called scapegoating and it often happens in abusive families. It can be mild (where one child is always talked down to or about, and might get less tangible items) or severe, like in this case. Why one particular child is chosen is still a mystery - I belong to a board for adult children who were abused where we've talked about this, and the reasons for the scapegoating are numerous but all without merit (obviously). Often the whole rest of the family is turned against that child by the abuser and also abuse the scapegoat to show loyalty and to gain favor (so they don't become the scapegoat). It's so incredibly fucked up. I hope these parents spend the rest of their lives in jail. Horrible.