DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

2014-2015

PSYCHOLOGY

PROJECT ON:

Family violence and its psychological implications for child development.

Submitted by – Submitted to -

Kshitiz Nabiyal Ms. Isha Yadav

B.A.LLB (Hon) Semester III Assistant Professor

Roll no. 71
Acknowledgement

I am most profoundly grateful to my teacher Ms. Isha Yadav for providing me this wonderful
opportunity to work upon this project after doing which I feel to have enlightened myself in this
regard and for the precious time she spent guiding us for the completion of this project.

I also thank the members of the library staff for their cooperation in making available the books
and magazines and allowing us to access the internet even during their free time and whenever
we required to do so.

Last but not the least I would also like to thank my friends. It was only because of their excellent
help that I have been able to complete my project.
Contents
Research methodology................................................................................................................................4
Sources........................................................................................................................................................4
Relevance....................................................................................................................................................4
Theoretical framework................................................................................................................................4
Hypothesis...................................................................................................................................................4
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Why are families violent?............................................................................................................................5
Reaction of children towards violence.........................................................................................................8
Effects of domestic violence on children.....................................................................................................9
Case studies in India..................................................................................................................................12
Laws against domestic violence and abuse................................................................................................15
What children need....................................................................................................................................16
Treatment – What policymakers must do..................................................................................................18
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................20
References.................................................................................................................................................21
Research methodology
Assessment and theories will be used to understand and research on the given topic.

Sources
Secondary sources will be used for the completion of the project.

Relevance
The objective of this project shall be to analyze the psychological implications of family violence
for child development exists in the society and also a few case studies will be referred to, to
further substantiate the arguments on the given topic.

Theoretical framework
This project shall outline the psychological implications of family violence on child
development.

Hypothesis
Child who grows in an environment full of violence will exhibit emotional and behavioral
problems in later stages of life.
 Introduction

Society tends to think of the family as a relatively safe place, a safe harbor, a place of sustenance
and care. It is a place where spouses love each other and their treatment. Regrettably, this view
of families is idealized. Far too often, families are a source of maltreatment and violence. Hence
child abuse is common, sibling abuse, abuse of parents, dating abuse, spouse abuse and elder
abuse. There is little agreement on exactly what constitutes family violence. Even when
definitional consensus is achieved, however, the fact remains that most family violence occurs
behind closed doors. It is often hidden, unnoticed and ignored. As a result, it does not come to
the attention of authorities and become part of official estimates. In addition, victims may not
recall abuse, may not perceive the behavior as abusive, may not wish to disclose the abuse or
may not even be able to report the behavior. In actuality, there is simply no way to know with
certainty how much family violence exists in society.

Children living in violent homes are themselves physically abused or seriously neglected. When
children witness abuse or are abused, they are seeing, hearing and learning about violence. They
learn that the people you love most may hurt you, that living in fear is normal and that violence
is the way to resolve conflict. As they learn a generational cycle begins in which children grow
up to be victims and abusers as adults. For children the effects of domestic violence are
divesting. Some of the major effects are the following. On the basis of present study it is found
that domestic violence increases the risk of poor health, poor education, isolation, learned
helplessness and decreased satisfaction in such family environment.
The project henceforth deals with the atmosphere that surrounds the child in his/her upcoming
years which leads him to further indulge in violent behavior; also, the traits which differentiate
between children who are born in families which practice violence and those born in violence-
free environment; in the end the project also deals with the treatment that can be served to the
children exposed to such violence to give a holistic view of the topic to the reader.
 Why are families violent?
1. Structural factors:
Many structural factors make families particularly prone to violence. One of these is
amount of time family members spend together, which increases the opportunity for
violence. In addition, power differentials often exist among family members, and those
who are less powerful run a greater risk for victimization. Children are subordinate to
parents, wives often are subordinate to husbands, and sometimes elderly parents are
subordinate to their adult children. Further complicating matters is that children and
women usually cannot fight back, nor can they always choose with whom they will or
will not interact. Children are dependent on their parents, and wives are frequently
dependent on their husbands. Whereas many interpersonal conflicts can be resolved
simply through the dissolution of relationships, most family relationships are protected by
law and are not so easily severed. Even when child maltreatment comes to the attention
of authorities, states are reluctant to break up families. Instead, authorities give
dysfunctional families multiple opportunities to change. Finally, the privacy and
autonomy traditionally granted to families make violence relatively easy to hide.1

2. Idealization of the family: This image o f the family includes several beliefs-
a. Parental rights supersede children’s rights.
b. Parents can and should have control over the development of their children.
c. Family members will act in the best interests of children and elderly parents who are
incapable of caring for themselves.
d. Families rooted in traditional cultures are strong families, even if some of their
customs justify family violence
e. Families have the right to privacy and autonomy even if this right results in harm to
vulnerable members.
This perception of the family serves to “justify what otherwise could be construed as
violent, abusive and worthy of intervention”.2

3. Social tolerance of violence:

1
Barnett Ola W., et al, Family Violence across the lifespan (3rd edn, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2011)
2
Ibid
 Social scientists almost universally maintain that society’s acceptance, encouragement
and glorification of violence contributes to abuse in the family. Such tolerance may have
a spillover effect, raising the likelihood of violence in the home. Depiction of women in
advertising and in video games, for example, often characterizes women as sex objects
and as victims. Objectification of males in the media appears to be problematic as well.
Although a minority of social scientists may still contend that attributing any youth
violence to the media is empirically unjustified, most now disagree. Watching media
violence constitutes a form of social learning, a broadly accepted theory that explains
learning through observation.

4. Cultural factors:
Cultural factors can also be helpful in explaining male-to-female intimate partner
violence. Some cultures accept violence, others condemn it. In some cultures, such as
Brazil and the Arab world, a husband’s violence against an unfaithful wife presumably
restores the husband’s honor. Approval of violence within the home is a contributing
factor. Overall, the most crucial element is cultural acceptance of male dominance. Some
family norms such as spanking, contribute to certain amount of family aggression.

5. Individual factors:
In addition to powerful social forces that may foster family violence, there are a number
of more individual factors that do so as well. One factor, of course, is some type of
mental illness or mental disorder, such as schizophrenia. Another factor is individual
differences such as vulnerability to jealousy or anger. One powerful forerunner of family
violence that may flow across the lifespan is level of attachment.3 Disruptions in
attachment are related to numerous correlates of family violence, such as intense
emotional dependence. 4

3
Attachment refers to the affectional bond between a parent and a child or, later as an adult, the bond between
romantic partners.
4
Ibid 2
 Reaction of children towards violence

A critical issue with domestic violence is the exposure of children to the violence. Such exposure
can include but is not limited to seeing the violence, hearing the violence, seeing the effects of
the violence (e.g., broken dishes, hole in the wall, bruises, etc.), or even just noticing the tension
following the violent outbursts. Even when children are not direct witnesses of violence, they
may experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress, regression, vulnerability, and other forms of
psychological injury. If abused themselves, they are likely to exhibit many of the signs
commonly seen in abused children. However, many children who witness domestic violence
between their parents but who are not themselves victims of abuse exhibit psychological
symptoms as well. Many of these children are in love/hate relationships with both parents.

In families with more than one child, it is common for each child to have a different reaction to
the violence and the specific responsive role taken by each child, which may alter the child’s role
within the family. One sibling may take care of the others, another sibling might take care of the
mother, and another might start acting like the perpetrator of the violence. Siblings may become
abusive with one another, or may soothe each other. Violence is always overwhelming for
children, and parents may or may not have the capacity to soothe the child. The severity of the
violence is not directly connected to the child’s experience of trauma. If the child does not see
the violence and does not intervene, the trauma is more likely due to the child’s vulnerability and
perceptions than to the actual event itself.

These children need a differential assessment that helps in understanding their vulnerabilities and
future needs. They typically exhibit a range of emotions, including hopelessness and guilt, rage,
depression, vulnerability, hyper vigilance, fear and so on. Because the family violence may be a
secret, it is important to speak to collateral sources which can provide information on the child’s
relationships with peers, parents, authority figures and others. Talk to the teachers and find out if
the child sleeps in school. Many of these children are hyper vigilant at night and sleep during the
day.
The two parents will often provide very different views of their children which may differ from
the actual level of fear, insecurity, or pathology in these children. The assessment of the children
in these families may also help in understanding the family’s pattern in violence.

There is a risk of child abuse, but it might also be a risk of abduction or threat by an angry and
vindictive parent. There is direct threat that the child is exposed to and the threat perceived by
the child. In families with a history of family violence, it is not uncommon for children to
express fear of being around a violent parent, and assessing the difference between the real risk
and the child’s perceived risk(if there is a difference) is important before formulating a treatment
plan for the family.5

Effects of domestic violence on children

Domestic violence is a crime against all family members but its saddest victims are children.
Children living in violent homes are themselves physically abused or seriously neglected. When
children witness abuse or are abused, they are seeing, hearing and learning about violence. They
learn that the people you love most may hurt you, that living in fear is normal and that violence
is the way to resolve conflict. As they learn a generational cycle begins in which children grow
up to be victims and abusers as adults. For children the effects of domestic violence are
divesting. Some of the major effects are the following. On the basis of present study it is found
that domestic violence increases the risk of poor health, poor education, isolation, learned
helplessness and decreased satisfaction in such family environment.

Health problem
Because of domestic violence, the children face poor physical and mental health. Among the
three children two boys & a girl, one boy had 25% burned injury while another boy & a girl had
problem of hearing due a slap from the father. Sometimes the children feel headache & giddiness
because of tense environment in the house.

5
Shah Philip M., Conducting Child Custody Evaluations (SAGE Publications, 2011) 55
Emotional/Behavior Problems
Anxiety: children worry about when the next outbreak of violence will occur. Fear: children are
afraid that one parent will die or be seriously injured.
Guilt: Children think the abuse is their fault.
Confused Feelings: Children are upset by their mixed feelings of love and hate for parents and
of fearing though wanting to be with the abuser.
Lack of Trust: Children have difficulty in forming positive relationships due to lack of parental
nurturing.
Poor Self esteem: Children inherit low self-esteem from parents.
Aggressiveness: Many children "act out" violence they witness at home.
Passiveness: Some children are overly eager to please any adult. Role Reversal: Children are
often placed in the parental or caretaker role, because the parents are too involved in the abusive
situation to adequately address the family's needs.
School Problems: Children want to stay home, because they think they can control the abuse.
This results in truancy, poor attention span, grade failing and dropping out.
Depression: Children feel overwhelmed by their inability to stop abuse, and in some cases
children are suicidal.

Physical Problems
Developmental Delays: Developments of children often lag behind due to lack of parental
nurturing and stress. In babies, it takes the form of failure to thrive.
Speech Disorders: Children develop speech disorders as a result of stress.
Stress-Related Ailments: Children often complain about headaches, stomach-aches and feeling
bad. Children are accident-prone. Children may wet the bed.
Physical Abuse: Children are often themselves victims of physical abuse.

Education
Majority of the children are literate. Many parents are interested to further educate their children.
The children in general say that because of tension in the family we are unable to concentrate on
our studies.
Satisfaction & Aspiration level
Some children were partially satisfied and in some cases the children opined that they have no
alternative to the present environment. In all the cases, society and children's friends’ opinion
about their family is not good. However, they do not appear confident to achieve their
goals/aims.

Isolation & Learned helplessness

The study shows that majority of children suffer from isolation and learn helplessness, whenever
the intensity of violence increases or domestic violence become a regular phenomenon. When
the children are unable to do anything to stop domestic violence they feel helpless and because of
that concept of learned helplessness is created in child’s mind. The children also felt isolated and
uncomfortable. This is a negative aspect for children personality and development.6

Cognitive and attitudinal problems: Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to
experience difficulties in school and score lower on assessments of verbal, motor, and cognitive
skills. Slower cognitive development, lack of conflict resolution skills, limited problem solving
skills, pro-violence attitudes, and belief in rigid gender stereotypes and male privilege are other
issues identified in the research.

Long-term problems: Research indicates that males exposed to domestic violence as children are
more likely to engage in domestic violence as adults; similarly, females are more likely to be
victims. Higher levels of adult depression and trauma symptoms also have been found. Exposure
to domestic violence is also one of several adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that have been
shown to contribute to premature death, as well as risk factors for many of the most common
causes of death in the United States.

Nature of the violence: Children who witness frequent and severe forms of violence or fail to
observe their caretakers resolving conflict may undergo more distress than children who witness

6
Tiwari Mohan, Rajiva Prasad, Children’s vulnerability to domestic violence
fewer incidences of physical violence and experience positive interactions between their
caregivers.

• Age of the child: Younger children appear to exhibit higher levels of emotional and
psychological distress than older children. Age-related differences might result from older
children’s more fully developed cognitive abilities to understand the violence and select various
coping strategies to alleviate upsetting symptoms.

• Elapsed time since exposure: Children often have heightened levels of anxiety and fear
immediately after a violent event. Fewer observable effects are seen in children as time passes
after the violent event.

• Gender: In general, boys exhibit more externalized behaviors (e.g., aggression and acting out)
while girls exhibit more internalized behaviors (e.g., withdrawal and depression).

Case studies in India

Case (1)

Kishore, a 12 year old student of ninth standard whose father is a shoe seller lives in a nuclear
family. His parents who are not much educated have monthly income of Rs.4000/-
approximately. Due to money problems domestic violence starts taking place in his family. His
father spends large amount of money on drugs. His father gets angry when his mother demands
money for household expenses. Whenever his father is drunk, he shouts, abuses, yells and beats
his mother. Some times Kishore is also beaten by his father. Once he was seriously injured due
to father’s beating and he fell down in the hot water tub and was burned twenty five percent. He
says, “I will never forget that day”. He narrates that due to violence both his health and education
has been affected. His friend’s opinion about his family is not good. He is partially satisfied with
his family. His aim of life is to become a teacher. However, he is not confident about achieving
his goal of life. He is always afraid of domestic violence that takes place in his home. To get
peace, to remove psychological tensions he prays to god. Kishore says that he will never indulge
in domestic violence in his married life.
Case (2)

Anil, a student of standard eighth, is the son of a driver. He is fourteen years old and lives in a
joint family. His parents are educated up till primary level. Violence takes place in the family
generally when the father is drunk. Father initiates violence by abusing, shouting, yelling and
beats his mother. Sometimes Anil also becomes a victim during the domestic violence. During
that time, he always takes care of siblings. He feels that because of the domestic violence both
education and health are affected. His friends make fun of his family’s condition. He feels shy.
He is partially satisfied in this environment. Anil’s aim of life is to become a military man to
serve the nation. However, he is not sure about achieving his goals/aim. He is always worried
about his family conditions. Anil opines that he will never indulge in domestic violence after
getting married.

Case (3)

Sita, 15 years old, is a student of standard ninth. She is daughter of a tailor master and lives in
nuclear family. Her father has primary level of education but mother is illiterate. Monthly
income of her family is Rs.3500/- approximately. Violence takes place in her family whenever
mother does something against father’s desire. During that time the whole house is under tension
and no one can know what the father is going to do. This is a regular phenomenon. Generally,
father initiates the violence. Sometimes she is also beaten because she supports her mother. She
feels that because of violence her educational career is getting affected. Her friends pass ugly
remarks about violence in her family. She is fed up of it but there is no alternative. She is now
frustrated. She wants to become a teacher. However, she is not fully confident about achieving
her goals/aim of life. She always prays to god that violence should not take place in her family.
She wants a violent free married life.
Case (4)

Savita, 14 years old, is a student of standard eighth. Her father works in Mumbai Municipality.
She lives in a nuclear family. Her father has secondary level of education but mother has only
primary level of education. Her family income is Rs.5000 per month approximately. Domestic
violence takes place in her family because her father has an affair with another woman. Mother
does not like this. Whenever mother protests against the father for going to the other woman,
violence takes place. During such times father shouts, abuses and yells and sometimes beats her
mother. This is a regular affair in her family. Generally, father initiates the violence. Whenever
she favors mother, she gets beaten. She feels that because of domestic violence her life is being
spoiled. Opinion of society and her friends about her family is not good. She also feels shy in
meeting her friends. Sometimes, she sees bad dreams about violence. She feels helpless. She
wants to become a police inspector. But she is not fully confident about achieving her goals/aim
of life. She does not pray to god because god is not listening to her and is completely indifferent
towards her problem. She wants a violent free marr ied life.7

Laws against domestic violence and abuse

In 1983, domestic violence was recognized as a specific criminal offence by the introduction of
section 498-A into the Indian Penal Code8. This section deals with cruelty by a husband or his
family towards a married woman. Four types of cruelty are dealt with by this law:

 conduct that is likely to drive a woman to suicide,

 conduct which is likely to cause grave injury to the life, limb or health of the woman,

 harassment with the purpose of forcing the woman or her relatives to give some property,

 harassment because the woman or her relatives is unable to yield to demands for more
money or does not give some property.

7
Ibid 7
8
The Inidan Penal Code 1860
The punishment is imprisonment for up to three years and a fine. The complaint against cruelty
need not be lodged by the person herself. Any relative may also make the complaint on her
behalf.

Various forms of "cruelty" recognized by the Courts:

 Persistent denial of food,

 Insisting on perverse sexual conduct,

 Constantly locking a woman out of the house,

 Denying the woman access to children, thereby causing mental torture,

 Physical violence,

 Taunting, demoralizing and putting down the woman with the intention of causing mental
torture,

 Confining the woman at home and not allowing her normal social intercourse,

 Abusing children in their mother's presence with the intention of causing her mental
torture,

 Denying the paternity of the children with the intention of inflicting mental pain upon the
mother, and

 Threatening divorce unless dowry is given.

What children need

Children can be better protected from the effects of domestic violence and better supported in
healing following exposure to this violence. Children need a safe and secure home environment.
Every child has the right up safe from harm and should feel that those they love are also
protected. Violence in the home shatters a child’s basic right to feel safe and secure in the world.
Children need the violence to stop. Children need to know that there are adults who will listen to
them, believe them and shelter them. Adults who work with children, including teachers, social
workers, relatives, and parents themselves, need the awareness and skills to recognize and meet
the needs of children exposed to violence in the home and to refer children to appropriate
services. Close, dependable relationships can also help children reduce the stress of living in a
violent home. Children who have an adult who gives them love, warmth and attentive care cope
better than those who do not. Children who are exposed to violence in the home need to know
that they are not alone and that the violence is not their fault. Children need a sense of routine
and normalcy. Violence in the home can turn a child’s world upside down. Routines such as
going to school and participating in recreational activities are vital for children’s development
and well-being and should be maintained. Children need support services to meet their needs.
Responses to children exposed to domestic violence should be comprehensive and holistic,
taking into account the range of effects and needs of different children. Children must have
places to go that are safe and supportive, whether it be with extended family or at a domestic
violence shelter. Studies suggest that providing interventions to abused mothers can also have
benefits to children, especially where these efforts take into account the specific needs of
children. Children need to learn that domestic violence is wrong and learn non-violent methods
of resolving conflicts. Children must hear it re-affirmed that domestic violence is wrong. They
have to see alternative role models in order to grow up with a positive idea of the future. Several
countries have instituted programs that teach young people how to avoid violence in personal
relationships. Schools are a key in the strategy. School-based programs can reduce aggression
and violence by helping children to develop positive attitudes and values, and a broader range of
skills to avoid violent behavior. Other successful programs emphasize conflict resolution,
cooperative play and positive role models. Children need adults to speak out and break the
silence. Children who are exposed to violence in the home need to know that things can change
and that violence in the home can end. Children need hope for the future. Public education and
awareness-raising campaigns on domestic violence should focus more on the impact on children
and specific ways to address this hidden problem. Governments and other public institutions
should speak out about the impact of violence in the home on children.9

9
“http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf” accessed on 5.10.2014.
 Treatment – What policymakers must do

Children have the right to a home environment that is safe and secure, and free of violence.
Governments carry a primary responsibility for ensuring that children and women are safe and
secure in their homes, and can take several key steps to ensure this. Raise awareness of the
impact of domestic violence on children. Much can be changed by bringing this problem into the
open. The message to all must be that domestic violence is damaging to everyone, including
children who are exposed to it, and that it can be stopped. Customs that validate domestic
violence and dismiss its impact on children must
be challenged. Public education works. One public information campaign in the United States
succeeded in challenging common beliefs and in changing attitudes towards domestic
violence.26 Protective policies put in place by governments must be matched by efforts to
change attitudes and traditions which condone abuse. As long as violence in the home is
shrouded in silence, the violence will continue. Create public policies and laws that protect
children. Legislation and policies must reinforce the message that domestic violence is a crime
that perpetrators will be punished and victims protected. These policies must focus on the
protection of children and address the impact of violence in the home on children. Criminalising
domestic violence sends a clear message that violence is not a private matter and is unacceptable.
It is essential that protective laws are enforced and offenders held accountable. Courts and
government departments must have specialized policies in place to address the safety of adult
victims of domestic violence and their children, including in connection with custody and
visitation rights.27 The particular impact of domestic violence on children must be taken into
account by all government agencies responding to violence in the home.
Enhance social services that address the impact of violence in the home on children.
Governments must specifically allocate resources to support children who are exposed to
violence in the home, within the overall context of prevention and support for adult victims of
domestic violence. Interventions that support children who are exposed to domestic violence are
crucial in minimising the long-term harm. Some innovative programmes exist to address the
needs of these children, for example through training staff who work with children to detect early
warning signs and to provide appropriate responses and support.28 Early detection programmes
that train health care workers to ask women about domestic violence can also help to break the
silence and encourage women to seek help.
Providing services and support to adult victims of domestic violence can benefit children,
especially when the specific needs of children are considered. Support for locating safe housing,
income assistance, access to health care and referrals for psychosocial support services should be
considered as means to assist all victims of domestic violence. Violence has no place in a child’s
life. With a clear vision and concrete action, we can and must give children a brighter and more
peaceful future. Private Sector Engagement Corporate social responsibility is a growing priority
for the private sector. Increasingly, companies are recognizing their responsibility to address
issues that impact their customers, employees, the environment and the communities in which
they work. Corporations have a critical role to play in addressing the impact of domestic violence
on children. UNICEF and The Body Shop International encourage businesses to ensure that time
and resources are committed to protecting and supporting children who are exposed to violence
in the home.
The private sector can:
• Finance or otherwise support initiatives that seek to prevent domestic violence and services that
support all victims of domestic violence, including children.
• Actively engage in partnerships with NGOs to develop public awareness and communication
campaigns and fundraising initiatives.
• Increase awareness of the issue through innovative employee education and training programs.
• Take action to persuade governments to take the issue of domestic violence and its impact on
children seriously.10

10
Ibid
 Conclusion

The occurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment is a serious and pervasive social
problem. The adverse effects of family violence on children can include behavioral, social,
emotional, and cognitive problems that may last into adulthood. Studies reveal general
agreement that the most effect approach to reducing family violence is based on comprehensive
partnerships within and among child and family-serving systems. Only in cooperation with one
another can these systems ensure the safety and well-being of children and families. The society
is moving towards it but there’s a long way to go.

The single best predictor of children becoming either perpetrators or victims of domestic
violence later in life is whether or not they grow up in a home where there is domestic violence.
Studies from various countries support the findings that rates of abuse are higher among women
whose husbands were abused as children or who saw their mothers being abused. Children who
grow up with violence in the home learn early and powerful lessons about the use of violence in
interpersonal relationships to dominate others, and might even be encouraged in doing so. Not all
children fall into the trap of becoming victims or abusers. Many adults who grew up with
violence in the home are actively opposed to violence of all kinds. There is reason to believe that
children know that domestic violence is wrong and actively want it to stop. Many children who
are present during acts of domestic violence try to help. One study showed that in 15 per cent of
the cases when children were present, they tried to prevent the violence, and 6 per cent tried to
get outside help. Another 10 per cent actively tried to protect the victim or make the violence
stop.
 References

Books:

1. Shah Philip M., Conducting Child Custody Evaluations (SAGE Publications, 2011) 55

2. Barnett Ola W., et al, Family Violence across the lifespan (3rd edn, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2011)

Web Sources:

1. “http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf” accessed on 5.10.2014.

2. “http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/parentsandyouthinfo/parentscarers/domesticviolence.aspx “
accessed on 5.10.2014.