| Millions of children in the United States witness family violence between their parents or a parent and his or her intimate partner each year. Research indicates that child witnesses of family violence often experience adverse behavioral, biological and physical, neurological, cognitive, emotional, and social effects. These adverse effects have been shown to negatively impact children in the short and long term and may continue into adulthood. The intergenerational cycle of violence shows that children who witness family violence are more likely to experience and perpetrate intimate partner violence as adults, which may be explained by psychosocial developmental theory, attachment theory, and social learning theory. This doctoral project consists of a literature review which examines: an overview of family violence, the prevalence rates of family violence, short and long term effects, the intergenerational cycle of violence and related theories, and resilience, protective factors, and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as treatment methods. |
