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An Even Greater Threat Is That The Partner Might Abduct The Children And Take ...

An even greater threat is that the partner might abduct the children and take them abroad. (Greenwich Multi-Agency Domestic Violence Forum. 2003).
One of the most powerful psychological effects of domestic violence, physical or verbal, is the victim's distorted perspective of their abuser. Often women will make excuses for the person who attacks them blaming it on themselves or on drink or drugs or other stresses within their relationship. This comes with an inability to prioritise their personal safety and wellbeing, and that of their children, believing that the emotional attachment between the family members might be enough to overcome the presence of violence.
Consequently, the effects of the mother's decision to remain within the abusive relationship means that the child remains continually at risk from psychological and physical hurt. The effects of exposure to violence in the home are extensive and not always immediately evident. For the individual exposure to domestic violence can precipitate personality disorders, addictive disorders, substance abuse, and even physical disorders. And as studies have shown, many violent individuals have themselves been victims of domestic violence and abuse, unable to break out of the cycle. Children and adolescents with violent parent(s) are without the presence of a mentor on which to model their behaviour. This can lead to further social problems such as an inability to integrate with peers. A young person who has experienced the insecurity of a violent home life might seek security in other forms - such as substance abuse, and gangs and gang violence.
Statistics
The Home Office survey 2004 reported on a questionnaire used by the 2001 British Crime Survey. It asked a nationally representative sample of 22,463 women and men aged between 16 and 59 whether they had been subject to domestic violence during their lifetime and during the preceding year. For relevance to this essay the following graphs were selected from the survey:

Source: Home Office Survey 2004: 12.
The survey surmised that since the age of 16 45% of women and 26% of men were subject to domestic violence at least once in their lifetime. (Home Office 2004: 8). Of these 18.6% were subject to force, meaning pushing, shoving, or physical harm.

Home Office Study 2004:13
The British Crime Survey estimated that 13% of women and 9% of men had been subject to domestic violence in the 12 months prior to interview. (p.8). Furthermore, 12.9 million incidents of domestic violence acts had occurred against women in that year.
Violence against children
In 90% of cases of domestic violence children are in the same room or the next room.


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