Psychological Perspectives on Understanding and Addressing Violence Against Children

Violence against children (VAC) is one of the most significant, widespread, and preventable threats to human development in our world today. VAC not only has direct consequences for children in a myriad of domains, including physical health, mental health, educational outcomes, and social relationships (e.g., Fry et al., 2018; Hughes, et al., 2017; Noonan & Pilkington, 2020; Norman et al., 2012), but emerging research also suggests that the incredible stress induced by VAC may result in the intergenerational transmission of negative outcomes, conferred through a variety of pathways. For example, children impacted by VAC may view violence as an acceptable method of conflict resolution and be more likely to engage in violent behaviors as they grow into adulthood, thus modeling violence for future generations (Affolter & Valente, 2019; Britto et al., 2014; Donaldson et al., 2017; Yale University & A?CEV Partnership, 2012)--