Final answer:
Child behaviors that may signal family violence include aggressive or withdrawn behavior, unexplained injuries, and a home environment where substance abuse occurs. Psychological signs, intimidation, or escalation in behavior can also indicate potential violence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Warning signs of family violence can manifest in various behaviors of a child. Some indicators include the child fighting or bullying other children, signs of injuries such as bruises or burns that do not have a clear explanation, extreme aggression or withdrawal, fearfulness, and changes in eating or sleeping patterns. It is also important to note that children exposed to substance abuse in the home are at a greater risk of experiencing abuse. Other risk factors contributing to a child’s potential exposure to family violence include social isolation, parental depression, low parental education, and a history of the parents being mistreated as children.
Physical signs of abuse may not always be visible, but they include beating, kicking, choking, or burning, which are considered abusive even if there is no intent to harm. Psychological maltreatment such as a caregiver being verbally hurtful can also be a signal. Meanwhile, a sense of intimidation or escalation in behavior can point to an environment where violence may be present. The majority of perpetrators of child abuse are the parents themselves, making it vital for those observing such signs to take them seriously and report them to the appropriate authorities.