Domestic Abuse and its Impacts on Children - Term Paper Example

Section/# Domestic Abuse and its Impacts on Children Whereas abuse of any type is invariably immoral and oftentimes a crime, domestic abuse has far-reaching impacts with regards to the way in which an individual child matures and develops. Acts of domestic abuse, whether direct or indirect, are perpetrated as a means of creating fear; whether this is fear in the mind of the child or fear in the mind of the spouse/other individual in the house towards whom the domestic abuse is being directed. This is due in part to the fact that childhood is an extraordinarily formative time which relationships are defined, trust is instilled, and definitions of normality are created. Within such an understanding, the reader can come to a quick realization of the fact that domestic abuse can have a powerful impact upon interrupting this delicate dynamic and process of growth. Many of the studies and research proposals that it been conducted with regards to this particular topic have been concentric upon seeking to reduce the exhibition of domestic abuse that takes place. Although these are extraordinarily important in helping to solve the issue, one aspect that was alluded to during the course of the semester is with regards to actually understanding the ramifications of this abuse and the manner through which it continues to impact upon the future life of the person that was either directly or indirectly exposed to it (Ellis, 2012). Although such a focus does not diminish the need for engagement of the issue for those that continue to perpetrate domestic violence or suffer from it, it further has a profound impact upon the ability of the affected individual to recover and return to society as a functional human being. Sadly, what is exhibited all too often is a situation in which the victim of domestic abuse blames themselves and carries a burden of psychological trauma and harm well into the future; affecting relationships, the ability to parent, and even the innate capability of having fun and experiencing joy of a relationship in the future (Upadrashta, 2012). Interestingly, even though there is a marked deviation between more common forms of physiological health and psychological health, a noted similarity that exists between the two is with regards to the time sensitivity that domestic abuse can impact upon a child with regards to the overall fulfillment in future relationships that the individual might expect to enjoy as life progresses (Alansari, 2006). This sensitivity can easily cause learning disabilities and issues pertaining to effective formation of bonds, friendships, and integration with society as a whole. In much the same way that an individual who is burned has only a certain amount of time to receive timely medical care prior to long-lasting impacts of this trauma existing in the form of scars for the rest of their life, an individual who experiences domestic abuse, either directly or indirectly, experiences the most benefit from having immediate counseling and/or therapy as a means to deflect many of the long-term implications that such an abuse might otherwise portend. This should not be understood to mean that if an individual experiences domestic abuse, they merely need to engage with psychological help as soon as possible in order to experience no future repercussions; rather, it merely denotes the fact that it is of the utmost importance to seek out psychological help in order to avert many of the negative side effects that so often play individuals who have experienced this reality as a child (Sinanan, 2011). Another pertinent and relevant aspect of domestic abuse and its impact on a child has to do with the interruption of childhood development that such a situation can oftentimes arrest. What is meant by this is the fact that children undergo a series of stages of development as they mature to adulthood; both physically and mentally. However, a litany of studies have indicated that the prevalence and/or existence of domestic abuse causes a situation in which the child has a profound likelihood of interrupting or misdirecting the natural rate of child sexual development and maturity that might otherwise exist. For instance, a child that has been the victim of, or exposed to, domestic abuse may very likely face a situation in which they have a halted or stunted level of psychological growth. Depending upon the time and severity in which domestic abuse is evidenced in the life of a child, these issues can reflected with regards to poor performance in school and/or the inability/lack of desire to relate with individuals their own age. Within such a way, the prior reference to the litany of traumatized individuals within society that point to domestic abuse as an excuse for some of the heinous activities that they had committed in adulthood can more realistically be understood. This has to do with the fact that domestic abuse can create a situation in which the individual is unable to mature and develop in a healthy manner (Pérez-Fuentes et al., 2013). Although it is not the purpose of this brief analysis to differentiate whether or not the cases of domestic abuse that are oftentimes referenced with regards to providing an excuse are indeed relevant, it must be understood that the sheer weight in numbers of this group demands the reader pay relevant attention to the information at hand. In seeking to apply the issue of domestic violence and its impact on children to current society, it can definitively be said that recent scholarship has indicated that the rates of domestic violence are understood to be far greater than theoreticians and scholars had previously estimated (Williams et al., 2013). Although this may come as something of a shock to an individual who understands the developed world to exhibit fewer and fewer of the problems that have defined previous eras, the impact of domestic violence was either misunderstood in the past (quite likely) or has come to be engaged and measured in more effective methods during the current era (Abners, 2008). All in all, helping individuals who have been exposed to domestic abuse/violence in the past is a powerful means of affecting a greater social good. Although a litany of statistics exists with respect to the overall incidence of child abuse exists within the current world, regardless of the statistic that is cited, the overall level of incidents is horrifying. In such a way, although it is needful to engage in seeking to leverage the criminal justice system to reduce the overall exhibition of child/domestic abuse in society, a far more actionable an appropriate approach within the current era is to focus upon rehabilitating individuals that have been impacted upon by such a negative externality. This cannot and should not be done to the exclusion of the other compound parts of reducing domestic abuse; rather, it must be done alongside it, and perhaps with even as much for as is possible. Regardless of the nation under analysis, domestic violence has profound ramifications on the health and levels of life enjoyment that participants within a society can come to appreciate. As long as rates of domestic violence continue to remain high, the level and extent to which well adjusted and productive members of society can integrate with currents needs and come to raise healthy families of their own will be diminished. Regardless, the impacts of domestic violence are far reaching and necessarily impact upon the developmental health of the individual; oftentimes leading to a situation in which life experiences can be stunted or ill appreciated as a result of the damage that domestic abuse has impacted. References Abners, C. (2008). The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: a review of the literature. Child: Care, Health & Development, 34(6), 840-841. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2008.00904_5.x Alansari, B. M. (2006). Gender Differences in Depression Amongst Those Who Experience Domestic Violence. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 34(6), 729-738. Ellis, G. (2012). The impact on teachers of supporting children exposed to domestic abuse. Educational & Child Psychology, 29(4), 109-120. Pérez-Fuentes, G., Olfson, M., Villegas, L., Morcillo, C., Wang, S., & Blanco, C. (2013). Prevalence and correlates of domestic abuse: a national study. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 54(1), 16-27. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.05.010 Sinanan, A. N. (2011). The Impact of Child, Family, and Child Protective Services Factors on Reports of the impact of domestic abuse. Journal Of Child Abuse, 20(6), 657-676. doi:10.1080/10538712.2011.622354 Upadrashta, P. (2012). Child Exclusion Provisions: The Harmful Impacts on Domestic Violence Survivors. Berkeley Journal Of Gender, Law & Justice, 27(1), 113-141. Williams, H., Foster, D., & Watts, P. (2013). Perinatal domestic abuse: Midwives making a difference through effective public health practice. British Journal Of Midwifery, 21(12), 852-858. Read More