Coping Mechanisms

All behavior is for a purpose; one must look past this behavior to the root cause to fully understand.
Act Out-may be to draw fire, relieve tension, or cry for help.
Withdraw-keep a low profile (protection), depression, immobilized by fear.
Overachieve-try to be perfect (not make waves) ignore the violence.
Underachieve-hopeless (give up) low self esteem, shame.
School Refusal-stay to protect mom/dad, shame.
Role Reversal-caretaking, keep dad/mom pacified, bankrupt parents.
Runaway-refusing to be helpless, sign of strength.
No Reaction-depression, tough exterior (protection).
Aloof, Sarcastic-rigid defenses, learned patterns, abusive, manipulation.
Nightmares-dealing with fears and tension.
Attention Seeking-promiscuity, diversion, seeking nurturance.
Temper Tantrum-tension release, learned patterns.
Bedwetting-anxiety.
DOMESTIC ABUSE PROJECT
204 WEST FRANKLIN
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55404


Woman & Child Abuse

Does Domestic Violence Affect The children Who Live There?
Many parents minimize or deny the presence of children while the mothers are being assaulted. However, interviews with children of battered women reveal that they have seen and heard, and can describe detailed accounts of violent behavior that their mother or father never realized they had witnessed. (Jaffe, Wolf & Wilson, Children of Battered Women, 1990
Reports by battered mothers show that 8% of children witness the abuse. (Lenore Walker, The Battered Woman Syndrome. 1984)
Events can be witnessed in many ways, not just by sight. Children may hear their mothers screams and crying; the abusers threats; sounds of fist hitting flesh, glass breaking, wood splintering, cursing, and degrading language. Children also witness the consequences of the abuse after it has occurred ~ their mothers bruises and torn clothes, holes in the walls, broken furniture, their mothers tears. They sense the tension in the house, in their mother. (National Center on Women and Family Law, The Effect of Woman Abuse on Children, 1990).
Many fathers inadvertently injure children while throwing about furniture or other household objects when abusing their partners. The youngest children sustain the most serious injuries, such as concussions and broken shoulders and ribs. (Maria Roy, Children in the Crossfire, 1988).
62% of sons over age 14 were injured when they attempted to protect their mothers from attacks by abusive male partners. (Maria Roy, Children in the Crossfire, 1988).
Eight times as many women report using physical discipline on their children while with the batterer than when living alone or in a non-abusive relationship. (Lenore Walker, The Battered Women Syndrome, 1984).
15% to 25% of pregnant women are battered. (Evan Stark & Anne Flitcraft, 1992).
In general, 70% of men who abuse their female partners also abuse their children. (Bowker, Arbitell & Mcferron, "On The Relationship Between Wife Beating and Child Abuse, "in Feminist Perspectives on Wife News, Kersti Yllo & Michelle Bogard, eds, 1988).
As violence against women becomes more severe and more frequent in the home, children experience a 300% increase in physical violence by the male batterer. (M. Straus & R. Gelles, Physical Violence in American Families, 1990).
Of children who witness their mothers being abused by their fathers, 40% suffer anxiety, 48% suffer depression, 53% act out with their parents, 60% act out with siblings. (Pfout, Schopler & Henley, "Forgotten Victims Of family Violence," in Social Week, July 1982). These children also suffer poor health, low self-esteem, poor impulse control, sleeping difficulties, and feelings of powerlessness. They are at high risk for alcohol and drug use, sexual acting out, running away from home, isolation, loneliness, fear and suicide. (Jaffe, Wolfe & Wilson, Children of Battered Women, 1990).
YES