Write 8 page essay on the topic Effects of Domestic violence on children.Download file to see previous pages... Domestic violence is a serious problem of the society and can adversely affect all membe

Write 8 page essay on the topic Effects of Domestic violence on children.

Domestic violence is a serious problem of the society and can adversely affect all members of a family especially the children. Violence at home is not a characteristic of any region or ethnicity. It is a grave global issue. The primary focus has always generally been on the women and adults who are victims of abuse but attention is now given increasingly on children who witness domestic violence. Statistics reveal that 10 to 20 percent of children remain vulnerable to risks as they belong to families that experience domestic violence. (Domestic Violence and the Child Welfare System, 2009) It has been observed that children of such families are usually abused or neglected which may affect their well-being and emotional stability. Although in most cases children are not the primary victims of domestic violence, continuous witness of violence can have psychological and behavioral effects on their growing years. Domestic violence generally hinders the proper growth of children’s psychology and hence their development in all spheres.Studies have shown that approximately 3.3 million to 10 million children witness domestic violence. Further studies reveal that almost 900,000 children are treated badly by their parents or guardians. Many children who witness violence also experience direct abuse which results in negative social and behavioral patterns (Moylan et.al, 2010, p.53). Children who continuously witness domestic violence get negatively affected and the intensity of the impact depends on the age of the child. Children who witness violence at home or are themselves victims of abuse exhibit various kinds of psychological problems. The reflection of their experience from being a witness to violence can be seen in their internal behavioral patterns like anxiety and depression or external behavioral patterns like fighting or bullying other children at schools or playgrounds. They are prone to disobedience at school and find it difficult to maintain relationships with other children due to lack of competency. Their general performance in schools is poor and they have the tendency to resolve conflicts by using violence (Stiles, 2002). The intellectual development of children depends on their interaction with the society and the people around them. In case of pre-school children, their parents play a vital role in supporting or hindering the development of their children’s education and growth. It has been proven that mothers who have a clear vision of their attachment relationships can take proper care of their children. This can happen only if there is non-violence atmosphere at home. Children who witness domestic violent have lower level of IQ than their peers who are not exposed to violence. (Busch &amp. Lieberman, 2010, p.505) There is also clear evidence from research that children who live by being regular witness of domestic violence also directly experience “physical or sexual abuse”. While all of these are short terms effects on their behaviour and emotions there are long term effects too.