FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: PSYCHOEMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DETERMINANTS OF PARENTAL AGGRESSION

This study aims to identify the psycho-emotional and behavioral determinants of parental aggression as a form of domestic violence. The analysis focuses on the impact of childhood traumatic experiences—including emotional and physical abuse—and the lack of emotional safety on the formation of aggressive parenting patterns. The study argues that parental aggression, along with other forms of violence, should be considered not only as a legally punishable act but also as a manifestation of behavioral health disorders. This conceptualization is consistent with current frameworks of the DSM-5 and ICD-11, where aggressive behavior, rooted in affective dysregulation and post-traumatic symptoms, is viewed as part of the clinical-behavioral spectrum.
The methodological foundation of the study is based on an original questionnaire (Childhood Emotional and Physical Experience Assessment Questionnaire and Its Behavioral Outcomes in Parenting), developed to assess the relationship between childhood trauma and parenting strategies. The sample included 398 parents. Correlational and regression analyses were conducted using Jamovi software.
Findings indicate that emotional deprivation and experiences of physical punishment in childhood are positively associated with tolerance for aggression and the propensity to reproduce violence in parental behavior. Significant predictors of parental aggression include high levels of traumatization, emotional avoidance, and internalization of aggressive disciplinary models. These results have practical implications for the development of preventive and therapeutic programs in family counseling and psychotherapy.

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