Of course you're first reaction is going to be "No way! Someone as bright and cheerful as Joey couldn't have been abused as a child (which was the point of the first paragraph)." But that isn't true, and there are many cases that show that. Did you know that in 1989 there were 2.4 million reports of suspect child abuse filed in the USA alone? And those are only the reported ones! So why couldn't Joey be one of those millions of kids that lives through hell everyday?
Joey shows signs of abuse too, if you watch him closly enough and know what you're looking for!
According to Child Abuse by Tom Ito, children who have been abused often commit acts of violence and delinquency. If you remember, at the begining of the first series Joey was a bully and picked on children younger or smaller than him. And even now, his first instinct is to lash out violently toward the thing that is causing him, or someone he cares about, pain and acts a lot like your average juvinile delinquent.
Another thing this book states that made me think of Joey was that abuse victims often feel alone and helpless, even when their surrounded by their friends. Does anyone beside me get the feeling, when watching Joey, that he may care about those around him but ultimatly he believes he can only depend on himself? And how in battles, when things look down, he will instantly switch from confidence to exprecing feelings of hopeless or helpless-ness? Also, people who have been abused usually show signs of guilt, anger, and depression.
Our beloved Joey shows signs of all three! Whenever something goes wrong in his life, or even looks like it's going to go wrong, he tries to take the blame. When he fought Yugi, and Yugi almost died, it wasn't Marik's fault (even though he was the one in control) it was his. As far as anger, well, Joey if full of it. He's quick tempered, and gets angry at people easily. Depression, now there's something he really does show signs of. He gains confidence fairly quickly, true, but he loses it twice as fast. It may take him as many as three duels before he believes in himself, but the minute he loses one he has to start all over again!
Many children are told the reason for the abuse is that they were wrong or bad. Do you have any idea how damaging that could be to a small child's self esteem?! Yet, they always find a way to hide it. On the outside, these people appear to be regular, happy people, but it's what's going on inside that counts, doesn't it?
Finally, while abuse appears in families of all social class and backgrounds, some common themes appear to be substance abuse and poverty. Joey's already stated, several times, that he's broke, and he even has a paper route he works in the mornings so that he can have a little money. And almost everyone believes that his father is drunk.
So there you have it, my theory about Joey's family life, along with some facts to support it. Still don't believe me? Well, that's your choice, but as far as I'm concerned it makes sense and I'm going to stick with it.
