What is Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control?
Domestic abuse is behaviour by someone to control or gain power over a partner or family member. It can include controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse. It can include psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse. In nine out of ten cases, children are in the same or next room when the abuse is going on. Domestic abuse impacts on their wellbeing. Coercive Control is a form of emotional domestic abuse and is a criminal offence. It is behaviour intended to make someone feel intimidated, scare, humiliated or threatened. It is a purposeful pattern of behaviour.
In nine out of ten cases, children are in the same or next room when the abuse is going on. Domestic abuse impacts on their wellbeing.
Coercive Control is a form of emotional domestic abuse and is a criminal offence. It is behaviour intended to make someone feel intimidated, scare, humiliated or threatened. It is a purposeful pattern of behaviour.
How does it affect children?
Children are affected in many ways by abuse, even after a short time. These effects include: feeling frightened, becoming withdrawn, bedwetting, running away, aggressiveness, behavioural difficulties, problems with school, poor concentration and emotional turmoil. The longer children are exposed to abuse, the more severe the effects on them are.
Domestic violence may teach children to use violence
Violence can affect children in serious and long-lasting ways
Where there is domestic abuse, there is often child abuse
Children will often blame themselves for domestic abuse
Alcohol misuse is a very common contributing factor when violence occurs in families
Pregnant women are more vulnerable to domestic abuse
Children who witness, intervene or hear incidents are affected in many ways. What can be guaranteed is that children do hear, they do see and they are aware of abuse in the family. Children will learn how to behave from examples parents/carers set for them. Domestic abuse teaches children negative things about relationships and how to deal with people. For instance:
- Children will often blame themselves for domestic abuse
- Alcohol misuse is a very common contributing factor when violence occurs in families
- Pregnant women are more vulnerable to domestic abuse