What Happens To Children Who See Domestic Violence?

I know lots of women stay being abused because they are afraid that breaking up the family is harmful to their child or children. I know I felt this way; I was unable to see how just seeing me getting beat up had a negative affecte on my daughter. This is very interesting, you should definitely check out the whole piece:

Witnessing domestic violence can lead children to develop an array of age-dependent negative effects. Research in this area has focused on the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional effects of domestic violence. Children who witness violence in the home and children who are abused may display many similar psychologic effects. These children are at greater risk for internalized behaviors such as anxiety and depression, and for externalized behaviors such as fighting, bullying, lying, or cheating. They also are more disobedient at home and at school, and are more likely to have social competence problems, such as poor school performance and difficulty in relationships with others. Child witnesses display inappropriate attitudes about violence as a means of resolving conflict and indicate a greater willingness to use violence themselves.
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