ABSTRACT
Violence in the family strikes at the very core of what is needed to build a solid, lasting relationship. Family violence can have a long-lasting effect, not only on the persons involved in the direct violence but for generations to come. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic violence (NCADV) (2007), children who have witnessed domestic violence have to contend with the impact of the violence, and the trauma they experience can show up in emotional behavioral, social, and physical disturbances that affect their development and can continue into adulthood. Witnessing physical attacks by parents or caregivers is a strong risk factor for transferring violence between generations. Boys, for instance, who witness this type of violence are more likely as adults to abuse their partners (Godbout, Dutton, Lussier, & Sabourin, 2009; NCADV, 2007), and 30% to 60% of those who abuse their partners also abuse their children (Edleson, 1999).
