Domestic violence is an issue that has been on the spot in the recent years. Domestic violence is considered as a state of no peace in a home with individuals constantly at each other's case and is attacking each other either physical, emotionally or verbally. Mostly, domestic violence is between two consenting partners in a relationship, however, it can be extended to other family members like children or other distant relatives. The forms of attacks or assaults in domestic violence may include, economic sabotage, physical abuse, verbal, sexual and emotional abuse. The physical forms of abuse may involve; beating with fists or objects, slapping, shaking, kicking, threatening with a knife, strangling, burning and other forms of attacks on the body. While emotional abuse can be placed into two categories, sexual and psychic attacks.
Psychological abuse occurs when an individual is locked away from others, terrorization through damage of property, trying to control one’s life events and activities, bullying, stalking, too much jealousy, verbal attacks and constant belittling and threats (Becvar, 2013). For positive growth to occur naturally, children require a safe and secure environment and therefore the place where there is peace and freedom is the most suitable environment. This is the best description of what and how a home should be. On the contrary, a living hell where children dread to go should be attempted to be called home.
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Throughout the world, most children experience massive violence at home (DiPaolo, 1999). Such experiences are dreadful as their hopes regarding the future either blurred or totally destroyed and these impacts to a colossal degree in their lives. Domestic violence exposes children as they see an attack being carried out on one of their parents by the other. At a very young age, the peace of minds is destroyed by the constant experience of the acts of violence. Before starting the invalid arguments and fights, the parents tend to send their children to their rooms and expect or rather pretend that the children are oblivious to all this. The children start living in fear that they will be left with a tough life without either of their guardians and start living in fear after they find out.
Background
Currently, a universal human rights challenge remains to be domestic violence. In a few countries, communities, and families, its escapes the necessary attention it ought to be given as most of the times it happens without the society noticing. All societies on earth are affecting by this global phenomenon. Studies have been carried out and result obtained an explanation of the aftermath of the effects of the violence at home for women as it has been explored. Unfortunately, the outcome of exposure to the domestic violence on children is very shallow as there is no research that goes a bit further to explore the how children are affected. In domestic violence, those who are most affected as a result of the disagreements within the confines of a home remains to be the children, however, this is often overlooked (Geffner, Jaffe & Sudermann, 2000).
This study bases its research on the forgotten victims of domestic violence. The violence at home makes children from such homes have some effects in their lives for a very long time as these events haunt them making them grow up as child abuse victims. Characteristics of behavioural problems commonly shown by children who went through physical harassment and even those who do not experience open violence exhibit these characteristics. These children tend to display behaviours of delinquency, wanting social skills and difficulty in learning. These kids tend to be slow in class and are known to be frequently violent towards their mates. Domestic violence occurs regularly in our homes but no one dares to ask or inquire since these incidents occur behind closed doors.
The society either ignores or has taken this issue as a social norm. Regardless of what the society does, these incidents lead to innocent victims suffering a lot. Since domestic violence happens behind closed doors makes it a very big challenge to tackle. Domestic violence is just known vaguely to mean wife battering, however, domestic violence is wide as it entails numerous forms of abuses and is always between intimate partners. There are various victims who may suffer as a result of domestic violence as the effects range from physical health to mental health of the victims during domestic violence. It often involves the entire family and it may be the woman inflicting pain and abuses on the man and vice versa.
According to Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory, domestic violence can happen to anyone and this can affect the overall mental development the victim is going through at the stage of psychosocial development that they are in. This study ensures the issues of domestic violence are effectively dealt with and raises the awareness and how the violence impacts the lives of children. Though defining domestic violence and its classification along with facts and explaining Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, the effects and impacts of domestic violence on children can be understood.
Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory
The interaction on an internal maturation plan and the external demands based on society, according to Erik Erikson, a person develops according to these factors. There are eight stages and each stage has their own challenge that the person must face according to the psychosocial development theory according to Erikson. The stages according to the theory include;
Basic trust versus mistrust - according to the theory, this is the first year and occurs during birth. Developing a sense of safety believing that the world is safe and it is a good place to be in. Autonomy versus shame – this stage is always between the first and the third year. Realizing that one is an independent person who can make decisions and doubt is the main challenge faced by the toddler.
Initiative versus guilt – this stage often takes place between ages three to six years. At this stage, the child goes through the challenge of developing the ability to cope with failure and how to handle it in case it occurs.
Industry versus inferiority – this stage is often experienced by the children from the sixth year through adolescent stage. In this stage, the children learn how to effectively cooperate with others and learn basic life skills.
Identity versus identity – this stage is often experienced during the adolescent stage. The children are confused about their gender. Integrating sense of themselves is a big challenge for them at this stage.
Intimacy versus isolation – this stage is often experienced at early adulthood. Committing to another in a love relationship becomes a challenge.
Generativity versus stagnation – during the middle adulthood, is when this stage occurs. Through child care, child rearing, or other productive work adult is challenged to contribute to younger people.
Integrity versus Despair – this stage takes effect in late life. Viewing one as satisfactory and worth living brings challenges (Kail, 2013).
It takes a lifetime to acquire all of the psychosocial strengths since these8 stages span across the entire life (Kail, 2013). According to the realization of Erikson, the past experiences influence the personal choices and attitude in the present life. Therefore, when ones early experiences in life were troublesome then one is likely to experience trouble with the choices they make. Therefore, domestic violence influences children greatly in their later life.
Classifications of Domestic Violence
Recent studies done by the U.S. Department of Justice have shown that this crime of partner violence is primarily a "crime against women" although anyone can be a victim of domestic violence (Feminist Majority Foundation, 2013). The study further showed that about 15% of the time male suffer from domestic violence as victims while about 85% of the time women are the victims. Therefore it is evident that 5 to 8 times the women are more likely to be abused compared to the male (Feminist Majority Foundation, 2013). The women are abused in marriages more than the men. The study also showed that the victims experience other forms of abuse and not just the normal physical abuse, however, the physical abuse was found to be dominant during domestic violence.
The study also found that the abuse may be incorporated from verbal abuse, causing emotional then resulting in physical abuses (House of Ruth, 2013). The partners start by hitting them slightly then as time goes the forms of abuses develop into more injurious forms. The children suffer more than the partner being abused during the violence since their suffering tends to follow them until late in their lives. Witnessing violent acts amongst one’s parents is the strongest risk of becoming violent themselves, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), while boys who witness these acts are twice as likely to become abusive towards their partners and children in their future.
Some studies have been based on a person’s overall physical and mental development and their health as a result of the effects that an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) relationship. The studies have focused on finding out what impacts domestic violence pose to the health of the partners. According to Bonomi et al. (2009) article, the studies that have been conducted regarding domestic violence have been highlighted. The studies include; age-adjusted models making comparisons between abused women and abused women. The conclusion from this study was; there were consistently increased risks mental disorders and psychosocial among many health risks as well associated with the abused women (Bonomi et al., 2009).
Apart from this study, others have also been conducted; they have been designed to look at the association between poor self-physical, intimate partner violence and mental health. The issues pointed out by these studies include association between psychosocial and medical and the IPV diagnoses as seen in a medical and clinical setting, including; gynecological disorders, trauma, suicide attempts, induced abortions, drug addiction, mental illness/disorders, diseases of the digestive system, poisoning, injury, assault, and neurological disease” among other issues (Bonomi et al,. 2009). All these prove that domestic violence is dangerous and has numerous effects on the children’s development together with the health of the victims.
The role of law enforcement in domestic violence cases
All countries experience the problem of human rights. The responsibility of police covers a wide range of institutions and is not just the work of the police; many institutions have some form of responsibility before, during or after domestic violence. Domestic violence is against the law as the Law for the Protection of Family is available and defines domestic violence as a verbal, physical and emotional harmful act committed against one family member by another (Rose & Susan, 2014) . An unpermitted, offensive and intentional touching of another person is considered to be a battery. By barely touching the wife can lead to the arrest of a husband for domestic battery. Misdemeanour domestic battery can make a husband jailed for up to one year in some states. There may be felony charges if the battery has serious injuries or there are repeated offences with the offenders facing a potential of years in prison.
Police Action in Domestic Violence Situations
In many instances, a 911 call may be made as a result of arguments escalating to dangerous levels within the family unit. The reason for the call is so that the police may come to the caller's rescue. Police are not social workers or counsellors hence should not be made to act as such. When police access the scene of domestic violence, it may be difficult for them to know how to act since they are not aware of the situation at the scene. Therefore, it is mandated that they follow procedures including; checking for injuries, observing the scene, conducting interviews, and separating the parties, hence providing information specific to domestic violence and more. However, it often ends up in an arrest of one party.
Court Action in Domestic Violence Cases
There are always attorneys who have specialized in domestic relations cases in state prosecutor's office. The technical legal process for a domestic battery is no different than any other criminal case, although the relationship of the parties alters the case dynamics. For one to be charged guilty in a domestic violence case, the individual must have been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The victim often believes it is within their powers to dismiss the case whenever they wish. However, it often does not work that way, since the case always belongs to the prosecutor once the case gets into the confines of a courtroom. The services of a defence attorney are required by the arrested party as the fate of this individual rests with the judge.
Impacts of domestic violence on children
Emotional, mental and social damage is often associated with the youth and children who have been exposed to domestic violence, these factors can bear a negative impact on their developmental growth. The feelings like empathy are lost by some of these individuals. Due to confusion or social discomfort, they become unable to make friendships hence feel isolated. The child welfare professionals need to understand the issues related to domestic violence and know how to identify them as well as assess and provide treatment to children and youth affected by domestic violence in order to respond to the overwhelming issues associated with domestic violence.
The feelings of fear and anxiety are developed in children who have been exposed to domestic violence. These children are always watching and waiting for the next event to occur as they always on guard. They never feel safe since they do not know the trigger of the next abuse. These children always fear for their mothers, siblings and themselves hence develop the feeling of worthlessness and powerless. It is often expected that the children who experience abuse to keep the secrets about these incidents hence do not even talk to others. These children may often in good shape from the outside but are really suffering from the inside since there is always chaos in the family.
Sometimes they end up blaming themselves for certain abuses claiming it was triggered by something they did or said. Other times get annoyed with their siblings or the mother for causing the abuse. They may feel humiliation, embarrassment or even rage. Various studies have concluded that regardless of the person being abused by the family always causes trauma to the children in that family (Schechter & Willheim, 2009). Homes that support healthy development is taken away from children in families where the mother is abuse. The children who have witnessed their mothers being abused often become bullies and often use intimidation and violence.
Conclusion
In the end, a conclusion can be easily made that a person’s psychosocial development can be influenced by domestic violence. However, it affects all mental aspects of life and physical development as well and not just that psychosocial development is affected. Intimate partner violence can lead to drug issues, suicide, and mental disorders among many other things according to the research by Bonomi et al. (2009). During the research, it was so surprising on how much the children can be affected by domestic violence. I had no idea that the male children who had experienced domestic violence were more likely to be more violent. The effects of domestic violence are so severe hence interventions need to be taken to save children from being their violent versions. The violence at home makes children from such homes have some effects in their lives for a very long time as these events haunt them making them grow up as child abuse victims.
Domestic violence is not only an issue meant for two as it is a communal issue that ought to be discussed to come up with solutions. Victimization is an occurrence that has been taken lightly and normally. The women are abused in marriages more than the men. The children suffer more than the partner being abused during the violence since their suffering tends to follow them until late in their lives. There are various victims who may suffer as a result of domestic violence as the effects range from physical health to mental health of the victims during domestic violence. The social ills like criminality and prostitution are often brought about by poor parenting and lack of effective and efficient nurturing. Children often learn from their parents hence when issues related to violence take place within a family then children are most likely to develop behaviours that are not socially accepted.
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