MYTHS & FACTS

--- Children Witnessing Domestic Violence

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

See more information at: http://books.google.ca/books?

id=xhl2bo0Gv1MC&lpg=PR5&ots=6stZj913eG&dq=myths%20of%20children

%20witness%20domestic%20abuse&lr&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q=myths%20of

%20children%20witness%20domestic%20abuse&f=false

Photo:

http://www.envisioncounsellingcentre.com/envision/images/domesticviolence.jpg

THANK YOU !