In this type of violence where those who suffer the most are children, there is a common pattern in the aggressor. An expert explains what it is and what effects it may have on the victims.
Oscar Castillero Mimenza, psychologist in states that, “although the trigger for attacks can be very different, depending on the case, in many cases Behind vicarious violence can be found a deep sense of inferiority and lack of self-worth, which generate frustration in the abuser that is aggressively discharged through violence on others.
As with other forms of domestic violence, it is believed that it usually involves men between 20 and 50 years of age.
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Effects on the boy or girl
- If the abuse occurs at the level physicalthe assaults may require hospitalizationtake him to suffer a disability (depending on the areas that are injured) or even to the death.
- To level psychological the and the selfconcept can be severely affected. As a general rule, it is observed a deterioration in the ability to pay attention and concentrate, a drop in academic performance and a high level of demotivation.
- The appearance reminiscent of attacks is common, avoidance of situations reminiscent of abuse and a high level of physiological activation.
- They can also be presented disorders of o . He fear and the are frequent symptoms that can even warn the social environment that the minor is suffering some type of abuse.
- The attempts to at some point in the life cycle, including childhood, are not strange.
- To level emotional HE hinders largely the acquisition of social skillsthe emergence of empathy and self-control problems. In this way, the appearance in the future of different psychotic disorders or antisocial, aggressive and psychopathic behaviors.
- To level socialtend to develop attitudes of great distrust in their interpersonal relationshipsmaking the emotional connection with third parties more complex and the fact that there is an emotional connection makes it more complicated for them to report or take other types of actions.
It is not uncommon for overprotective attitudes to develop with the most significant people around them in order to prevent them from suffering the same violence as them.
Finally, can acquire the behavioral patterns they have been able to observegenerating a vicarious learning of the situation and replicating by being accustomed to them and considering violence in the family and couple as normal behavior.
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Treatment
The treatment of this phenomenon must be approached from a multidisciplinary perspectivethus, social, health, educational, administrative and judicial services They must work together.
If we focus on psychological levelit is necessary to work with victims of attacks, both with affected minors and adults, regardless of whether they have witnessed or suffered attacks.
In therapy we would work on processing of the situation suffered, in favoring and promoting a realistic self-concept, in behavioral avoidance and in eliminating typical self-blame.
With respect to the abuser, there are various rehabilitation therapies that aim to modify abusive behaviors and improve frustration management, through behavior modification techniques and other cognitive and emotional techniques.