Effects of Domestic Violence on Children - Coursework Example

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Domestic violence is a type of violence that occurs when a family member, partner, or ex-partner attempts to psychologically or physically dominate other. However, in today’s world domestic violence is referred to as violence between spouses (Richie, Sokoloff, & Pratt, 2005). In nearly all cultures domestic violence occurs and people of all religions, sexes, classes, and ethnicities are considered to be the perpetrators of domestic violence.

There are different forms of domestic violence which include physical violence, sexual abuse, economic deprivation, and threats of violence. However, in most cultures, domestic violence is related to physical abuse. Similarly, there are different modes of domestic violence like: Mode, Severity, Frequency, and Permanent injury. Similarly, passive abuse leading to violence is often ignored by many individuals and usually, this type of violence is considered to be in veil and its subtle violence. The movement of women has drawn certain attention in this regard and in early 1970 the concern about wives who were beaten by their husbands gained the attention of different social organizations and communities. However, the issue of domestic violence and its awareness differs from culture to culture (Fall, 2004). Studies and researches suggest that only one-third of cases are reported in the developed countries the United States and the United Kingdom.

Domestic violence usually takes the form of physical violence and it includes direct physical violence that ranges from unwanted physical contact to murderers and rape. Besides direct violence, there is indirect physical violence and it includes the destruction of objectives, throwing objects near to the victim, or harming pets. Besides physical violence spousal abuse and emotional abuse are also included in the domestic violence. Domestic violence also includes non-verbal threats which are body postures, gestures and facial expressions. Similarly, sabotaging the victim’s relationship and isolating them in both the short and the long run affects them negatively.

Domestic violence was only categorized and associated with a phenomenon that men beat women and the women only suffer however in certain cases it was found that women also batter men and in many cultures and countries are men are sufferers of domestic violence. The effects of domestic violence are wide and varied and when abusive and violent behaviors actually happen then the affects of domestic violence after these overt incidents are over. The patterns of behavior that are experienced after violence are labeled as the cycle of violence. A well known scholar presented a model which is known as the cycle of violence. This cycle is comprised of three basic phases:

Honeymoon phase: The honeymoon phase is actually characterized by elements of apology, affection and apparent end of violence. After the violence the batterer condemns his/her action and he/she feels elements of sadness and remorse in hi/her attitude. In this scenario some batterers walk away from the situation while other show their love and action to their spouse (Fall, 2004).

Tension building phase: This phase is usually characterized by elements of fear, outbursts and tension. In this scenario the victim opts for an aribitratin strategy and he/she calms down the batterer to avoid any violent confrontation (Fall, 2004).

Acting out phase: In this phase the actual violence takes place and the batterer dominates his/her partner by inflicting pain through domestic violence (Fall, 2004).

Therefore, we can say that the cycle theory is not a realistic approach towards domestic violence because many men and women do not experience these phases.

Domestic violence poses different threats to the society and it not only affects the sufferer but it also effects the children that are exposed to this violence. This tragic reality is quite disastrous in the long run and anytime a mother is abused by her partner the children are also affected by this act in both subtle and overt ways (Fall, 2004). Therefore, domestic violence can easily be related to children and it can be said that what hurts the mother actually hurts the children as well. Children may feel guilty when a mother is abused and they feel embarrassed that they are helpless because they cannot protect her. In this scenario thy feel neglected and the mother deals with trauma. When children see their parents being hit or pushed or slapped they also feel the pain and they develop a hatred for the batterer. ...Download file to see next pages Read More