Tita Yanez

McMennamy- 5th Period

Capstone
20 September, 2016
Timed Writing 1
When considering the effects domestic violence can have on others, physical damage is
what is mostly documented and taken into account. However, evidence shows that the
psychological and emotional effects are what usually causes the most damage on all involved.
Although anyone regardless of race, gender, and age can be a victim of domestic violence, for
the purposes of this writing, victims are going to be classified as female and the perpetrators are
going to be classified as male. Domestic violence has devastating psychological effects on
victims and abusers, as well as child witnesses; it leaves an imprint on their mental and
emotional health that could last a lifetime.
Eighty five percent of victims of domestic violence are female, and the violence these
women endure leaves many psychological and emotional scars. A survivor of domestic violence,
Leslie Morgan Steiner, describes what went on through her head while she was abused by her
husband. She says, Domestic abuse happens only in intimate, interdependent, long-term
relationships, in other words, in families, the last place we would want or expect to find violence,
which is one reason domestic abuse is so confusing (Why Victims). This is the primary thing
that allows for so much psychological damage to occur to the victim. Victims enter an abusive
relationship unaware of the harm their partner will bring to them further down the line. When the
abuse begins, the abuser has fully convinced the victim that she is loved by him, and here is

where she begins to be confused and where the psychological damage begins to occur. When a
victim is convinced that her abuser loves her, aside from experiencing depression, fear, and
anxiety due to the abuse, the victim often feels a deep sense of self hatred and guilt. An article
reads that, Domestic violence negatively affects mental health, and mental health issues make a
woman vulnerable to victimization. The womens suffering becomes a vicious cycle (Feder).
The emotions and mental damage done to a victim of abuse, makes her more susceptible to
returning to or re-entering an abuse relationship. The damage done may become a permanent
part of who they are. Another article states that, experiencing domestic violence can cause
personality disorders for the rest of the victims lifetime. Even if a woman is able to escape her
abuser, she may never be able to heal from the mental and emotional scars she received.
Domestic violence can have life altering effects for children, even if they are not the ones
being abused. Many children grow up being witnesses to spousal abuse among their parents.
Witnessing domestic violence occur between parents, can have many psychological effects on
children, even if the child is not being abused and is loved by both parents. An article says that,
Both boys and girls from violent homes evidenced significantly lower levels of social
competence, such as poorer problem-solving skills and lower levels of empathy, showing that
growing up in a violent home can affect a childs understanding as well as their mental
development (Fantuzzo). Javier Espinoza grew up witnessing his father abuse his mother. He
said that although his father loved him very much, [He] vowed to never ever be like [his]
father Whenever [he] saw him beat [his] mom, [he] would have done anything to stop him.
[He] wanted to hit him. [He] wanted him to bleed too (Turning Pain). It is not normal for a
child to grow up having violent tendencies, yet it is apparent that Javier grew up wanting to

physically hurt his father. As mentioned before, this is the norm among many children who
witness abuse within their household. Javier also says, I slipped into a new space between: On
one side there was visceral violence and on the other there was the untarnished lies and abuses.
And in this new space between, I struggled with an all encompassing feeling of powerlessness
(Turning Pain). Here we see how the violence that was prevalent in his life, affected his well
being and emotions. The sense of powerlessness that Javier felt, lead him to feeling many more
things such as depression, hatred, and fear. This psychological damage that Javier experienced
was something he could not fully get a grip on until he started living his own life as an adult and
found a way to no longer feel powerless, as he began to help victims of abuse and their children.
When thinking of those affected by domestic violence, we emphasize the damage done to
a victim and her children, but it is often hard to imagine that the abuser or batterer suffers from
his actions; however, his abuse also affects him psychologically- sometimes even worse than it
does the victim. Most abusers are not in their right mind when they begin abusing someone. In
fact, studies show that about 54% of batterers suffer from some form of severe mental illness
(Feder). Although, this does not provide an excuse for the abuse, it does show that often times
abusers are already suffering in some way before the abuse has even begun. It is also proven that
when domestic violence occurs, Both victims and batterers sustain similar amounts of
long-term mental health problem (Why Does He). A person seeing this objectively, will
probably be confused as to how it is that a batterer can experience long-term mental health
problems as severe as the victim of the abuse. This is because although batterers usually
continuing abusing their partner, the violent acts they commit affect them mentally. What they

do is something they carry with them in their mind and although some may feel remorse while
others do not, the acts are something that can subconsciously haunt them.
Domestic violence, when a part of a familys life, is something that leaves nobody
untouched. Everyone, even the abuser, suffers because of the abuse that occurs. Domestic
violence can leave victims fearful and anxious for the rest of their lives. It can also cause
children that witness their parents abuse to feel hopeless and insecure in many situations in their
life. The damage done can haunt the abuser for the rest of his life. Although there is no way to
guarantee the end of domestic violence, there is a way to minimize the psychological damage
that is done.

Works Cited
Alejo, Kavita. "Long-Term Physical and Mental Health Effects of Domestic Violence." Scholar
Works. N.p., May 2014. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
Bancroft, Lundy. Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men. N.p.:
Berkley, 2002. Print.
Fantuzzo, John, and Wanda Mohr K. "Research on the Effects of Domestic Violence on
Children." Domestic Violence and Children 9.3 (1999): n. pag. - The Future of Children
-. 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.
Feder, Gene, Kylee Trevillion, Sian Oram, and Louise M. Howard. "Experiences of Domestic
Violence and Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Plos. N.p., 26
Dec. 2012. Web. 02 Sept. 2016.
Javier Espinoza. Turning Pain Into Power. Ted Talks. N.p., 9 Jan. 2013. Web. 13
Sept. 2016.
Leslie Morgan Steiner. Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave. Ted Talks.
N.p., Nov. 2012. Web.