| Domestic violence affects every member of the family, including the children. Family violence creates a home environment where children live in constant fear. Statistics show that over 3 million children witness violence in their home each year. Those who see and hear violence in the home suffer physically and emotionally. |
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| Indicator: |
| | Elementary Age: |  | Vacillate between being eager to please and being hostile. | | Verbal about home life. | | Developmental delays. | | Externalized behavior problems. | | Inadequate social skill development.
Gender role modeling creates conflict/confusion. |
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| | Preadolescence | | Behavior problems become more serious. | | Increased internalized behavior difficulties: depression, isolation, withdrawal. | | Emotional difficulties: shame, fear, confusion, rage. | | Poor social skills. | | Developmental delays. | | Protection of mother, seed her as "weak." |
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Key Aspects of Development
| Impact of Domestic Violence | | Increased emotional awareness of self and others. | More awareness of own reactions to violence at home and of impact on others (e.g. concerns about mother's safety, father being charged). | | Increased complexity in thinking about right and wrong: emphasis on fairness and intent. | Possibly more susceptible to adopting rationalizations heard to justify violence (e.g. alcohol causes violence; victim deserved abuse). | | Academic and social success at school has primary impact on self-concept. | Ability to learn may be decreased due to impact of violence (e.g. distracted); may miss negatives or evoke negative feedback. | | Increased same sex identification | May learn gender roles associated with intimate partner abuse (e.g. males as perpetrators - females as victims.) |
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