Domestic Violence produces four levels of victims.
First there is the direct victim who receives the batterer’s abusive, intimidating, violent behavior. There may also be children who witness the abuse or who live in an environment where domestic violence occurs. Brain studies reveal that exposure to domestic violence alters brain development in children, infants or even as a fetus in the womb. Because of the damaging influence domestic violence has on them, children who are exposed to domestic violence are also considered direct victims of the batterer.
The second level is the direct family of the batterer and the victim. The mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, grandparents, and children who do not live in the home are all adversely affected.
The third level is the community in which the domestic violence has taken place, since the batterer’s actions often result in the consumption of community resources such as emergency response, court services, CPS, Women's Refuge.
The fourth level is society. Victims of domestic violence can be scarred for life; and because of the damage, they often need lifetime services from society to manage their trauma filled lives.
