The second type of effect of witnessing domestic violence is emotional. Emotional effects are the most prominent in children; more so than behavioral or psychological. It has been psychologically and scientifically proven that any child who witnesses domestic violence for a period longer than one year, experiences some or many forms of emotional affects (“Children’s Defense,” 2011, para. 23). This is because emotional trauma occurs more easily and naturally than any other type of effect. Normally in any situation children tend to respond with emotion before physicality because even though they don’t acknowledge or even realize it, they react after they’ve registered an emotion towards what is happening. As stated by Professor Edelbrock from
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Whereas the children who witness abuse less frequently and maintain at least some form of a relationship with either of the adult figures, have less negative emotional effects. (“Child Abuse,” 2008, para. 15). Although this may seem confusing, it is a simple concept. Take a child riding his bike for example. The more times the child rides his bike successfully, the more they’ll want to keep going outside to ride the bike again, even if it’s only once or twice that they are successful. But if the child continues to ride his/her bike and continually falls off, they no longer wish to try again because they begin to view the idea as being futile. Similarly, when children witness the same type of violent abuse again and again they fail to believe in a solution and do not wish to “get back up again”. However if the child is able to have even the slightest bit of positive reinforcement (such as a steady relationship with either parent), it becomes a means of hope for them which can completely alter the emotions they …show more content…
4). Therefore, it has even been legally declared that witnessing domestic violence is considered to be a form of child abuse, especially because of the emotional effect that it has on children. Emotional effects are categorized to be any effect that arouses intense feeling or that is caused by intense feeling, and can be long term or short term. The most common emotional effects found in children all across the board, are withdrawl, fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, insecurity, low self-esteem, loneliness, and avoiding outdoors or public places (“Domestic Violence,” 2008, para. 3). These effects are found to be the most common despite any other factors or boundaries. Factors and boundaries include age, gender, severity and duration of abuse. Depending mostly on the age of the child, some other effects may include: embarrassment, helplessness, shame, fear of abandonment, blaming oneself, hate and anger towards parent(s) and/or others, and inability to express thoughts or feelings (“Women’s Aid,” 2005, para.
Whereas the children who witness abuse less frequently and maintain at least some form of a relationship with either of the adult figures, have less negative emotional effects. (“Child Abuse,” 2008, para. 15). Although this may seem confusing, it is a simple concept. Take a child riding his bike for example. The more times the child rides his bike successfully, the more they’ll want to keep going outside to ride the bike again, even if it’s only once or twice that they are successful. But if the child continues to ride his/her bike and continually falls off, they no longer wish to try again because they begin to view the idea as being futile. Similarly, when children witness the same type of violent abuse again and again they fail to believe in a solution and do not wish to “get back up again”. However if the child is able to have even the slightest bit of positive reinforcement (such as a steady relationship with either parent), it becomes a means of hope for them which can completely alter the emotions they …show more content…
4). Therefore, it has even been legally declared that witnessing domestic violence is considered to be a form of child abuse, especially because of the emotional effect that it has on children. Emotional effects are categorized to be any effect that arouses intense feeling or that is caused by intense feeling, and can be long term or short term. The most common emotional effects found in children all across the board, are withdrawl, fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, insecurity, low self-esteem, loneliness, and avoiding outdoors or public places (“Domestic Violence,” 2008, para. 3). These effects are found to be the most common despite any other factors or boundaries. Factors and boundaries include age, gender, severity and duration of abuse. Depending mostly on the age of the child, some other effects may include: embarrassment, helplessness, shame, fear of abandonment, blaming oneself, hate and anger towards parent(s) and/or others, and inability to express thoughts or feelings (“Women’s Aid,” 2005, para.