We see irritability, sleep disturbance, extreme
"startle" response and more minor illnesses
Impact on attachment: Infant learns adults
are not to be relied on, effects can be long
lasting. The more serious the Domestic
Violence, the higher the likelihood of insecure
disorganised attachments. The mother, as
the attachment figure, is a source of both fear
and comfort; babies are both afraid of, and
for, their mothers. The confused baby does
not develop consistent / coherent strategy for
obtaining help and comfort from mother.
Insecure babies are hyper-vigilant - always
on the look out for danger. This can lead to
aggression in school for older children who
are ready to defend themselves.
Childhood: By the age of 3 a child exposed
to Domestic Violence may respond to adult
anger with greater distress and increases in
aggression directed at peers. The child
cannot make sense of the violence. Mother's
helplessness leads her to dissociate from the
violence so may act as if nothing is wrong.