Callaghan, J., Sixsmith, J., Bilotta, J. and Armstrong-Hallam, S. (2013) "Witness" to violence? Psychological discourses of children in situations of domestic abuse. Invited Keynote presented to: Northamptonshire Against Domestic Abuse (NADA) Domestic Abuse Conference, Kettering, United Kingdom, 27 November 2013. (Unpublished)
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Abstract:
This paper examines the impact of professional (and particularly psychological) ‘talk’ about children who experience domestic abuse. Academic, popular and professional discourses around domestic abuse tend to represent children and young people as passive witnesses and victims - as individuals who watch, who suffer from and who are damaged by the violence (e.g. Rivett and Howarth, 2006; Spilsbury et al, 2007). While we acknowledge the negative impact that domestic abuse has on children’s lives, we believe that this dominant professional exlanation tells only a partial story, and one that can have a negative and unintended consequence for work with children and families. We consider the way constructs like ‘witness’, ‘trauma’ and ‘exposure’ are used in literature and professional practice, and explore the implications of such constructions for young people’s identities. In particular we explore how such accounts constrain the articulation of more agentic and resistant subjectivities in children living with domestic violence. We will talk about some of the research work we have been doing with young people, through Northampton Women’s Aid, exploring the notion of children’s agency in situations of domestic abuse.
Subjects:
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ767 Children. Child development
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF712 Developmental psychology > BF723 Child psychology
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV6001 Criminology > HV6251 Crimes and offences > HV6626 Family violence
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF712 Developmental psychology > BF723 Child psychology
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV6001 Criminology > HV6251 Crimes and offences > HV6626 Family violence
Creators:
Callaghan, J., Sixsmith, J., Bilotta, J. and Armstrong-Hallam, S.
Funders or Sponsors:
European Commission (Daphne III)
Grant Reference Number:
JUST/2012/DAP-AG-3461
Projects:
Understanding Agency and Resistance Strategies (UNARS)
Northamptonshire and East Midlands:
Social Issues
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > The Centre for Children and Youth
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Institute of Health and Wellbeing > Centre for Family Life
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Health Sciences and Services
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Institute of Health and Wellbeing > Centre for Family Life
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Health Sciences and Services
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date:
27 November 2013
Date Type:
Presentation
Event Title:
Northamptonshire Against Domestic Abuse (NADA) Domestic Abuse Conference
Event Dates:
27 November 2013
Event Location:
Kettering, United Kingdom
Event Type:
Conference
Language:
English
Status:
Unpublished
Refereed:
No
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