Running head: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

Causes and Consequences of Family Violence

Amber McKenna
BSHS/407
April 4, 2016
Katisha Everett

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

Causes and Consequences of Family Violence

Family violence is any act or omission by persons who are cohabitating or living
together as a family that results in serious injury to other members of the family (Wallace &
Roberson, 2014). Family violence can be defined as a number of things such as mental and
physical abuse, sexual assault, intimidation, verbal abuse, child abuse and elder abuse. If abuse
ever occurs in your family, you need to get help immediately because it can turn deadly if the
accuser tends to be violent a lot. Violence can make people do strange things that they have
never done before. Some accusers may become violent and not even realize it until it is too late
for either them or their family. The accuser could have mental issues, using drugs or abusing
alcohol, just do it because they want to or because they experienced when they were young and
thats what they are used to doing.
Counselors can tell a lot when there are indicators going on with a child and his or her
family. When a counselor is conducting a session with a child and his or her family, the
counselor picks up on different signs, emotions, and body language. Some indicators are:
bruising, family members being quiet and not answering questions, the child being distant from
their family and the parents not allowing the child to talk. The abuse can get so bad that the child
could end up getting hurt even more or runaway because they arent capable of standing up for
themselves. The child may not try to stand up for themselves or other family members because
they think they cant win the fight against the accuser. Counselors will try many different
strategies to make a break through with the child and his or her family. One strategy that the
counselor may try is an Intervention. An intervention can result in immediately removing the
child or children from the home to prevent them from further harm. Another strategy is
mandating reporting to law enforcement or child protective services (CPS). Being a mandated
reporter, the counselor must report if they visibly see bruises or marks on the child and his or her
family, that cannot be explained with legitimate explanation. Counselors can sense that
something is going wrong with the child or in the family. When the counselor begins sensing that
something is wrong, the counselor tries to make sure that everything is alright at the end of each
session, because they want to make sure everyone is safe.
Long-term effects violence has on the family vary from member to member, depending
on age and sex. Family violence will have different effects on infants and young children then it
would on adolescents and adults. Some long-term effects violence has on the family are low selfesteem, trust issues, psychological problems, isolation, and depression. When the victim has low
self-esteem the victim blames self for abuse that occurred. This occurs commonly in physical and
sexual abuse cases. Victims of family violence most commonly suffer trust issues, and have
difficulties trusting others. If the victim was sexually abused by a family member, then the victim
has trouble developing relationships with others. Victims of family violence deal with

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

psychological problems such as; mental illnesses, emotional maladjustment, personality

disorders, and character disorders. When suffering from isolation, victims feel powerless, trapped
in a nightmare of violence that they cannot escape. The victim may even turn to substance abuse.
Depression is when you are down and out, cant eat or eat too much, overthink a lot, crying,
hopeless about life. When family violence causes a victim to become depressed, the victim
experiences distress or problems in society, at work, or in other important areas of daily life. The
victim may feel unworthy like no one wants them and they do not want to be around you. Many
times medicine can help, but others tend to do drugs, drink alcohol or commit suicide. If the
medicine is not helping the victim may turn to the self-medicating ways, because they feel like
they cannot take it anymore.
There are many triggers that can make a person become violent, because everyone is
different and reacts to situations differently. Some of the triggers are personality disorders,
mental illnesses, substance/alcohol abuse, environmental factors, disabled children, stepchildren/step-parents, and culture. When the abuser suffers from personality disorders or mental
illnesses, it is important that they are medication to help balance this imbalance out. If they
choose not to be on medications, then this can cause them to have mood swings or episodes
causing them to become violent. As we all know drug and alcohol abuse alter a persons mind,
and that causes them to do things they are not aware of and do not remember. Most men feel that
they have to be the provider for their family and if that is challenged then they may become
violent and take it out on their family. Sometimes when families blend the children and the new
parent do not get along very well. This can cause both parents to become angry and defensive,
causing violence in the home towards the whole family. Depending on the cultural background
the man or woman may feel that it is ok to be violent with the family members. If the woman is
not used to that culture, then that can cause her to become defensive and the man reacting in a
violent matter. All these different triggers can go different ways man against woman and
children, or woman against man and children, or both man and woman against the children.
There are many different views on people who were abused or neglected as children or
adolescents. Not every person that is abused or neglected has the same problems as they mature.
Some of the different implications associated with abuse and neglect are mental illness, poor
self-esteem, aggressive behavior, suicide attempts, drug/alcohol abuse, PTSD, personality
disorders, and also depression.
There are so many causes and consequences to family violence that it is unreal. More and
more information comes out every year in different surveys and different situations. Anyone who
is a mandated reporter should always report when they feel there is abuse, neglect, and/or family
violence. Reporting the abuse, neglect, and/or family violence could save someones life in more
ways than one.

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

Reference
Wallace, H & Roberson, C. (2014). Family Violence: Legal, medical, and social
perspectives (7th ed.) Boston, MA: Allyn & Baco
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2013). Long-term consequences of child abuse and
neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Childrens Bureau.