Domestic Violence Psychology

Domestic violence is a major health problem all around the world that can affect victims emotionally, physically and psychologically. Domestic violence usually occurs in the home with their intimate partner or household member. It can be physical or verbal abuse like intimidating the victim, threatening, and isolating them from the outside world. Sometimes victims are in fear of speaking out about domestic violence because of embarrassment, shame, or fear of the abuser hurting the victim. Other times, victims do not even know that is happening to them until something major happens. For instance, their partner hitting them or verbally degrading the victim several times. The United States had more than 10 million women and men that have experienced …show more content…
There are several signs that can detect whether an individual is going through domestic violence. An individual may experience physical abuse like pushing, choking, kicking, hitting, forced intercourse, slapping, confinement, or even using a weapon (Meekers). Physical abuse can leave scars and bruises for victims that can be visible for their friends, family and coworkers to question. This can make the victims not want to go out in public because of embarrassment or fear of others finding out. Furthermore, verbal abuse like calling names, humiliation, controlling, insulting, playing mind games, and treating someone like a servant can make an individual feel unwanted and isolate themselves from others (Meekers). This is significant because it can make the victim feel powerless and have no control of their own life. The physical and verbal abuse of an abuser to a victim is very serious and it leads to the victim suffering psychological problems in the future like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and …show more content…
PTSD is when an individual experiences anxiety and flashbacks triggered by a traumatic event. Some responses to post-traumatic stress disorder can be re-experiencing the events of trauma through memories or flashbacks, nightmares of the events, have severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the events (Chemtob). About 7 out of 10 women who have experienced psychologically abuse has display symptoms of PTSD. Victims who goes through a traumatic event like domestic violence may have difficulty adjusting and coping with the events for a long time (Najavits). So, victims who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder needs time and support from friends and family to recover faster and