Children exposed to domestic violence : the impact on their behavioural and relational skills

Abstract

Domestic violence is a crime which people find difficult to define. Researchers in present day believe that domestic violence is any act of physical, sexual, psychological or economical violence, causing threat and moral harm or suffering, committed by any member of family, member of residence or partner (Gender-based violence and domestic violence act, 2018). The primary victim regarding domestic violence is the one being abused, this has many grave consequences. However, this dissertation will focus on the secondary victim; the child. Being exposed to domestic violence has a huge impact on a childs behavioural and relationship skills. The attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988) will be referenced throughout this dissertation as a basis to explain different behaviours and responses of those exposed to domestic violence. The researcher used a qualitative approach to gather the data, conducting a total of 4 interviews with professional participants from both the UK and Malta. From these interviews, although at a small scale, the findings gave conclusive themes. Children exposed to domestic violence can show aggressive behaviour due to the observations that they make of the perpetrators they are exposed to. Furthermore, this research shows the importance of attachment from a protective adult with the child in order to ensure positive habits and expectations are created. When attachment is not created, it is clear that the child will learn bad habits and can be caught in a cycle of abuse. After finding such results, the researcher concludes by giving recommendations for child education, more intense pre-natal relationship checks, virtual support groups and future research in effort to bring new strategies and prevention techniques to the trauma and exposure that some children endure.