Physical & Emotional Abuse Support Group

Well, that's a good question they are very similar... I've suffered both, and I think the difference is, that as an adult I had more than when i was a child... As in people take domestic abuse more seriously in my country and turn a blind eye to child abuse when they see it, or such is my experience. With parental abuse of a child, the child is not as wise or I mean experienced in the ways of the world, as the adult abused partner has.

I think to be perfectly honest, ABUSE follows a dynamic which is similar in most abusive situations, i mean there is heavy intimidation in most, there is heavy agression, and there is heavy demeaning of the victim, The abuser has to have power and the victim must be degraded to feeling worthless...

I also think another difference is: The child often knows nothing else at first - i remember at age 6 being surprised to discover that my friends didn't get battered with a belt for 'stealing' an apple from the family fruitbowl for example. When you enter into an abusive relationship as an adult, it takes some time for the abuser to have you degraded and confused enough to be trying to meet his/her ever more insane demands, and ever more feeling s/he's right that nope no use to man or beast me, need him/her to survive this awful life thing we got going on here, and feeling like you deserved that kick / punch / scare etc...

"and I think the difference is, that as an adult I had more than when i was a child..." meant to read as:

and I think the difference is, that as an adult I had more POWER than when i was a child...

good question, i believe domestic violence not only invloves the family but the children as well, an abuser might as well be doing the child abuse cause the children suffer from it, not only as children but as they grow, they to follow the paths until they break the cycle, its the same thing i believe...

THANKS EVERYONE.

In the UK at least it is now recognized that Domestic Abuse affects the children who are in such a relationship. However, child abuse is when a child is abused by an adult or adults for the gratification of that adult/s.Whether that abuse is sexual, physical, mental or emotional.
Domestic abuse is perpetrated upon an adult over the age of 16 - this can be by ANY member of the family - whether extended, step or common law. Age, ethnicity or gender are not an excuse. It is called Domestic Abuse because it happens in the home. I hope this helps, Love Viv XX

Simply put - domestic violence is any form of abuse in the home. Child abuse is a subset of domestic violence.

Well, unless it has to do with being physical, I would say there is no difference.

I AM A CHILD OF AN ALCOLIC HE WAS A ABUSER AND I GOT BEAT BAD.NO MATTER IF I WAS GOOD OR BAD. AND I WAS ABUSED AS A ADULT.ABUSE IS ABUSE,RATHER,BEATINGS,SHOVES,HIT ETC.VERBAL OR MENTAL...THEY ARE BOTH THE SAME...DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE,EXCEPT ONE YOU ARE A CHILD WHICH IS CHILD ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE YOU ARE A ADULT.

Could I ask,

Why you wanted to know? Just curious :)