The Effects Of Domestic Abuse On Children And Potential Solutions

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Secondhand Abuse: The Impact of Domestic Abuse on Children and Potential Solutions on How to Diminish Domestic Abuse in Society Domestic abuse, or domestic violence, is defined by the United States Department of Justice as “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone” (Domestic Violence). A heightened problem in America today, domestic abuse is often accompanied by not only physically, but also psychologically damaging effects. However, these effects are not just inflicted upon the direct victim of domestic abuse - oftentimes the female in a heterosexual relationship - but also can have an effect on children of domestic abuse who witness strife between their parents or caregivers. Ultimately, the effects of domestic abuse on children who witness domestic abuse in their household is detrimental to human well-being and can result in a life that continues domestically abusive tendencies, as well as exhibits additional social problem; therefore, this issue must be addressed and rectified through increased awareness of and outlets for people and children impacted by domestic abuse. As is evident in the CNN and New York Daily News articles, domestic abuse within intimate relationships impacts children. It is horrific that domestic abuse infiltrates into other lives beyond the directly abused victim - let alone that domestic abuse occurs at all... ... middle of paper ... ...s of abuse, but also has secondhand effects on children that expose them to potential psychological issues, and can lead to a future filled with further abuse and an abundance of social problems, such as homelessness and poverty. By taking steps to build awareness of domestic abuse and establish more domestic abuse aid programs with heightened exposure in society, the cyclical tendency of domestic abuse prevalence can be diminished. Direct victims of assault can seek refuge from abusive relationships, and children who have witnessed domestic violence can receive help in order to deplete any future harmful effects that domestic abuse can inflict on in children. All in all, domestic abuse is a tragic social problem in and of itself that needs to be solved, but the additional hardships it places on children who witness such abuse needs to be addressed and fixed, as well.

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