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  • Essay / Effects of parental conflicts on children's behavior and development

    It is estimated that three to four million children aged three to seventeen are at risk of exposure to domestic violence (“Effects”). Even though many spouses never encounter such extreme violence, many still have arguments full of tension and resentment. These conflicts, if not handled properly, can have harmful consequences on the children who overhear these arguments. In order to reduce parental conflicts that would otherwise harm the child's development, premarital counseling should be made mandatory so that the couple can learn how to properly manage conflicts, thereby contributing to the correct behavioral development of the child. Say no to plagiarism. . Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay When people are young, all their needs are very important. If any of these needs are not met or poorly addressed, its development could be threatened. Of all the stages of life, early childhood is one of the most vital. It is therefore important that all psychological and physical requirements are met. The American Psychological Association has stated that by responding quickly to the infant's demands, children learn attachment and are more encouraged to trust the outside world ("gist"). It is important to teach them to trust the outside world, because as they grow, they will see the world as inviting and therefore will be more able to explore and learn. When a mother develops a strong relationship with her child, it “protects [the child] from behavioral problems” (Settle 9). This may be because the child feels more welcome and knows they have support when problems arise. If any of these needs are not met repeatedly, the child's development could be at risk. Of all the dangers that could arise, parental conflict is one of the greatest factors hindering successful development. When parental conflict arises in a child's life, their development can be hindered and the lessons they may learn could harm them in their future. Divorce puts children at risk, but it is domestic violence and conflict that puts children at risk for depression and behavioral problems. If parents are in a constant state of descent, they may lose focus on their child and fail to parent properly. Parents may then lack consistency in disciplining their children. Researchers who have looked at the effects of discipline have found that “inconsistent discipline is associated with conduct problems, aggression, and juvenile delinquency” (Settle 8). Driving problems may include vandalism, drug abuse or bullying. Because of these issues, it is important that parents continue to cooperate in all conflicts. In fact, it is shown that when there is cooperation between parents, even when there is disagreement, the child adapts more positively in his life (Settle 8). The child learns the right way to overcome conflict and will see disagreement as a learning opportunity and not as a situation to be feared. It is therefore important that parents do not allow themselves to be overwhelmed by the conflict to the point that the child is seriously affected. It is even more crucial that conflicts that concern the child do not become apparent to the child. Research has shown that “if the conflict involved the child or the marriage, the child's behavior was more aggressive” (Barthassat). Small outbursts of aggression..