DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS CHILD ABUSE
Domestic violence is in every sense of the word child abuse; in fact, it is
perhaps one of the most insidious forms of abuse because it is the first
violence inflicted on a child. Violence directed against a child's mother
is now understood by researchers to be the primary risk factor in deter
mining whether that child will be directly abused by the child's mother
or father.
The harm to children takes various forms. The most direct is of a psy
chological nature. Witnessing violence often induces in children,
regardless of their age, a chronic post-traumatic reaction. Interviews
with children who witness their father physically and psychologically
battering their mothers also reveal a variety of reactions including fear,
dissociation and numbing. Male children, particularly older ones, also
experience intense anger at their father during and after domestic
assaults and typically harbor revenge fantasies for years afterward.
Children who witness their mother's brutalization also typically model
their reaction to the abuse on their mother's reaction. That is to say,
when these children are directly struck by the male perpetrator or the
mothervictim for that matter, they do not seek assistance from the out
side; they blame themselves for the abuse and experience feelings of
shame and low self-esteem.
Finally, it is frequently the case that children are directly physically
harmed during incidents of domestic violence. This harm occurs in a
variety of ways including being accidentally struck by a fist, pushed or
hit by a thrown object, or being intentionally struck while attempting to
protect their mother.
Help for children suffering from abuse can be accessed through your
local law enforcement system, the local office of the Department of
Human Services, Child Welfare Division, or through one of the local
Victim's Advocacy offices.
Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
MYTH: Children aren't aware of the violence in their home.
FACT: Studies show that most children are aware of the violence
directed at their mother. See "Effects of Domestic Violence on
Children "for ways you can support children who witness domestic violence.
MYTH: Children are not at risk for being hurt or injured.
FACT: Men who abuse their partners are more likely to abuse the chil
dren in the home. Domestic violence is the number one predictor for
child abuse. Subjecting children to an environment full of violent
actions and hateful words is not being a "good dad. "