Children Witnessing Domestic Violence

1. MYTHS & FACTS
--- Children Witnessing Domestic Violence

2. Myth 1: Domestic violence only exists in lower
socioeconomic class.
Fact: Domestic violence exists in all kinds of socioeconomic class.
Domestic violence happens in any kinds of social class. The lower
socioeconomic seems to face more domestic violence is because
they reported more to the police and there are many went to the
emergencies. For those higher classes, it had been difficulty to
identify the problem because they often hide the incidence and
because they live in higher standards neighborhood it seems to be
a private situation. When it comes to medical treatment, the victim
often declaim to their family physician that it was an accident.

3. Myth 2: Domestic violence is not significant because it is
just a small push or slap that does not require medical
assistance.
Fact: Domestic violence leaves both physical and emotional impact.
Domestic violence results in many ways, not just simply a push or
anything less than that. It can range from black eye, bleeding nose,
bleeding ears, sever back pain, broken arms, legs, burning, and
killing. Sometimes it takes a life time to heal the injuries. But not
only is the physical pain, what causes the most the inner pain.
Women may feel panic, fear, isolated, helplessness…etc.

4. Myth 3: The police and communities view domestic violence
is a private problem.
Fact: New policies and trainings are integrated to help prevent
domestic violence.
The improvements have been in progress to raise awareness of the
domestic violence. The policies had been upgraded. Back then the
police showed no effect to arrest the abuser; they would just talk
and ask questions. But now, the police is responsible for protecting
the victims. Also, many advocacies had put in place to help women
as well.

5. Myth 4: Temporary restraining orders and protective
orders are often less effective to prevent domestic
violence.
Fact: The new technologies have been implemented to
protect the victims.
Many women are protected by court orders, that including
moving to a new place, change the phone number and it is
not listed for public.

6. Myth 5: The cause of domestic violence is due to the
mental issue of the abuser. Their behaviors can’t be
changed.
Fact: There are counseling program out there to help.
The men can get helped by counseling, the abuse rate dropped
from 83% to 53%. One example about Ralph is that he started
abusive action when he is 28. Then he was advised to go
counseling, after that his behavior changed. The thing is
knowledge and awareness can help. Talk to somebody and get
helped.

7. Myth 6: Many victims of domestic violence are involved
in serious beatings for years, but only few of them
have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Fact: The rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has
been raised from 45% to 84%.
One example from Robert 1996 is that the victim had attempt
to suicide. Live seems meaningless to them. The huge impact
on their emotional status caused the victim to think in negative
way.

8. Myth 7: Women who stayed in the violence relationships
because they are masochist.
Fact: There are several reasons why women stayed in the violence
relationship: economic need, learned helplessness and fear.
Women stayed in the relationship are not because they are
masochist. First of all the cause is the financial issues, they have
no money to support them. Secondly, they think there are no one
turns to for help. Lastly, for most women, the bond of their
children kept them stayed in. they could not leave their children
behind.

9. Myth 8: Children do not need to go to a specialized
counseling program who witness their father abuse their
mother.
Fact: Children who have been exposure to domestic violence facing
long lasting harms that include emotionally and socially.
Children who witness domestic violence leave a huge impact on
long lasting emotional struggles. They may face anxiety disorders,
delay in cognitive, not doing well in school, lost trust in adult, doing
poor in social activity. There are lots impacts on them. They also
need support and counseling so they are able to relieve their pain
as well.

10. Myth 9: Men who abuse their partners because of
the effect of alcohol use.
Fact: The number of non-alcoholic abuser is higher than
alcoholic abuser.
Alcohol is just an excuse for abusive actions, not the
cause of it. There are higher numbers of men who don’t
drink abuse their partners than those who do drink.

11. See more information at:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=xhl2bo0Gv1MC&lpg=PR5&ots=6stZj913eG&dq=myths%20of%2
0children%20witness%20domestic%20abuse&lr&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q=myths%20of%20child
ren%20witness%20domestic%20abuse&f=false
Photo:
http://www.envisioncounsellingcentre.com/envision/images/domesticviolence.jpg

12. THANK YOU !