Damaged - How Domestic Violence Shapes a Child

Domestic violence-also known as domestic or spousal abuse- has come to be increasingly prevalent in contemporary culture. Typically associated with violent corporeal aggression between intimate adults, it can also involve sexual, emotional, economic, and psychological abuse. The devastating effects of the abuse on adult victims are well documented as most of the systems in place in our community are geared towards them.

Domestic abuse, however, has other silent victims. Studies have shown that males who batter their partners are also likely to batter their children and it is estimated that colse to 3 million youngsters are exposed to violent behavior at home every year. Children from abusive homes are also more prone to be sexually and physically abused and are generally more neglected than those in non-abusive dwellings. In the light of these disturbing realities, a examine arises: How does domestic violence shape a child? Violence is all the time distressing for children to see; more so when it occurs inside the home, where they are supposed to feel protected and safe. The impact of family violence depends largely on the child's age and gender- an infant reacts differently to stressful situations than a toddler, a boy maybe me more aggressive in his response compared to a girl. But anyone a child's age and gender is, the abuse affects every facet of his development-emotional, behavioral, social, and physical. Emotional problems arising from domestic violence contain feelings of abandonment and insecurity, guilt, conflicting attitude towards parents, familial shame, and suppressed anger. Thus an infant can be prone to irritability and incessant crying, while a toddler may make ultimate separation anxiety and fear of being alone. Guilt can also move one to punish oneself by indulging in self-harm. These troubling emotions come to be more internalized-and more serious- as a child enters adolescence. Feelings of helplessness triggers depression, and depression cultivates feelings of helplessness. A vicious cycle of emotional instability thus ensues. Behavioral problems are also evidence of a traumatic childhood. A child may come to be erratic--he might excessively crave attentiveness one occasion and be indifferent the next; he can be very vocal and then lapse into total silence; he may vacillate between aggressiveness and passivity in a matter of minutes. Bedwetting is also noticeable, as well as, night terrors. As a child grows older, these errant behaviors come to be more externalized prominent to substance abuse and alcoholism, two popular forms of escapism. corporeal symptoms of abuse includes psychosomatic complaints such as headaches and stomachaches, fatigue, lethargy, recurrent illness, and poor personal hygiene. Socially, he may show an inability to trust, poor communal skills characterized by introvert-ness and isolation, pitiable anger management skills, and poor problem solving abilities. Domestic violence can also distort a child's perception of what is proper guide and what is not. Man who is repeatedly exposed to violent behavior is likely to exhibit such actions himself. Cruelty to animals and bullying are base outlets of aggression. In later life, it is not unusual for the abused child to come to be the abuser himself and for the victim to be the perpetrator of the crimes he once endured. This, perhaps, is the most disquieting consequent of family violence. While the list discussed above is by no means exhaustive, it gives us a see into how violence in the home can impact a child's physical, emotional and psychological development. Recognizing this fact is a vital step towards tackling the problem. Breaking the destructive cycle of domestic violence is a challenge, but it is the only way we can furnish nurturing homes to our children where they can flourish into the well balanced individuals that they are meant to be.