IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Impact Of Domestic Violence Among Preschool children

[Student Name]

Chapter One: Introduction

The journey through childhood and adolescence to young adulthood is circuitous in the main. It presents different opportunities as well as challenges and risks for each individual in the quest to develop a sense of self. That journey involves many experiences, some of which give much pleasure to the individual and others which inflict some pain. The journey is important as it allows for lessons to be learnt, ones which help to shape the individual's understanding of the world and his/her place in it.

The years spent honing the individual should, ideally, be ones which are happy and empowering. The reality for many is that these years are fraught with insecurity, conflict and confusion, leaving these individuals with a perception of the world which is skewed towards undervaluing themselves, being suspicious of others and developing of a cloak of protection which often denies them the opportunity to realize their true potential. Fortunately, some people who experience such challenges rise above adversity and go on to live productive and fulfilling lives.

This paper presents some of the challenges and risks faced by individuals during the life cycle, with a focus on the lives of pre-school children, adolescents and youth who are exposed to and/or experience domestic violence and/or child abuse. It considers the nature and dynamics of domestic violence and child abuse. It examines the impact on the psyche and functioning of the witness and/or survivor of such abuse. It offers insights through scenarios describing acts of domestic violence and/or child abuse and their consequences. It raises questions which should be explored if the objective of reducing the incidence of domestic violence and child abuse is to be achieved. It also explores the role youth programmes can play to assuage the consequences of domestic violence and child abuse on adolescents and youth as well as help to prevent their occurrence.

Chapter Two: Literature Review

Domestic Violence: A Pervasive Practice

The practice of domestic violence undermines human development and colours interpersonal relationships within the home and the wider society. It entails the use of coercive behaviour to establish and maintain power and control over another person and may be detrimental to the abused as well as other persons. This behaviour may take the form of physical, psychological (including verbal), sexual and economic abuse which occurs between the members of a family/household or persons currently or previously in an intimate relationship. It can take place between persons of similar or different ages, groups, ethnicities, religious backgrounds and genders and knows no class barrier.

The forms of domestic violence have varying impacts on the abused and those around them. Some are more readily identified and recognized as forms of abuse than others. Below are some examples of each form of abuse.

Physical abuse may occur as hitting, kicking, cuffing, biting, slapping, choking and burning. It may leave visible signs on the abused and may be witnessed by others.

Psychological abuse (including verbal abuse) may take the form of ...