Write 10 pages with APA style on The effect of domestic violence on children with in the United Kingdom. Children are often present in homes where domestic violence occurs. They may watch their mother be physically or emotionally abused by their father, observe one of their parents being threatened with physical harm by the other, or hear the arguments that erupt into physical altercations. Children who grow up in homes with domestic violence can suffer devastating consequences:
Physical injury is the most obvious outcome of domestic violence, but it is not the only possible consequence. The emotional and psychological damage that results from exposure to domestic violence can also have serious and long-lasting effects. Children who witness domestic violence are much more likely than others to develop emotional and behavioral problems such as low self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness. They may learn that anger is an acceptable response to conflict or that it is okay to hurt someone they love. They may also become fearful of people in general or develop a pattern of following people around so they can be on hand to protect them when trouble arises. Abused children often feel responsible for what happens within the family, whether or not they are actually at fault. This feeling of guilt, coupled with a lack of positive attachment to either parent, can lead abused children to feel depressed, isolated and unloved.