In a world awash with reports and images of violence from conflicts around the world, it is easy to lose sight of those who continue to be hurt ‘behind closed doors’ by people they should be able to trust. Despite mandatory notification legislation, the reporting rate of child physical abuse remains low and when investigated relies on testimony of victim versus perpetrator where relationship dynamics are often confusing and contradictory. This dyadic perspective is belied by studies which have demonstrated that abuse is often witnessed, if not reported, by other family members.
The bystander phenomenon has been well researched, however this has usually been applied to non-family members in incidents of public assault and there has been a failure to ‘thoroughly examine the phenomena of other family members present during child abuse in general, and especially during child sexual abuse, as the psychological mechanisms involved in these cases are complex’. Klebanov et al (2024) address this question in a study which sourced data from forensic interviews to explore children’s perception of other family members during abuse experiences.
The Research
The forensic interviews of twenty-six children provided data to conduct a thematic analysis to explore their perception of other family members presence during physical abuse. This identified three main themes; patterns, roles, and coping mechanisms, family reactions shaping children’s abuse experiences; and sibling bonds amidst familial abuse.
Three Key Themes
Pattern, Roles and Coping mechanisms.
This theme ‘provides a comprehensive and inclusive overview of the complex and interrelated aspects of familial abuse as reflected in the children’s narratives. It includes the repetitive and cyclical nature of abusive experiences, role fluidity and identifying the roles of all present which may shift across incidents and the coping mechanisms adopted to attempt to normalise abuse and maintain the family’s daily routines.
Family Reactions Shaping the Child’s Experience
The response of family members shapes children’s experience and perceptions and contributes to their world view. For a significant number of respondents, the reactions of others determined the child’s explanation for the abuse.
The Sibling Bond
Two very different sibling experiences were reported. In one, siblings became a source of support and comfort after abuse. The second was termed a ‘survivalist scenario’ which occurred when any child could be the butt of a parent’s anger resulting in avoidance of admitting wrongdoing and blaming others to avoid punishment.
In Conclusion
This research identifies ‘the complex and often distressing dynamics that unfold in abusive family environments and the involvement of family members as either active participants or passive witnesses. It shows that abuse forms a recurrent pattern in family life which has long term detrimental consequences for children. Finally, it speaks to the need to address violence against children within the entire system in which they live, to understand and transform patterns of abuse and those of potential healing and support.
Klebanov, B., & Katz, C. (2024). “I remember most of my family seeing it”: The presence of others during child physical abuse, as conveyed in forensic interviews with Israeli children. Family Process, 00, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/ famp.13053
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