Intergenerational cycles of violence occur when violence is passed from parent to child, or sibling to sibling. Children exposed to domestic violence are likely to develop
behavioral problems, such as
regressing, exhibiting out of control behavior, and imitating behaviors. Children may think that
violence is an acceptable behavior of intimate relationships and become either the abused or the abuser. Recent research has questioned whether certain effects of domestic violence exposure on children are moderated and/or mediated by maternal psychological response such as maternal
post-traumatic stress disorder,
dissociation, and related biological markers. An estimated 1/5 to 1/3 of teenagers subject to viewing domestic violence situations experience
teen dating violence, regularly abusing or being abused by their partners verbally,
mentally, emotionally,
sexually and/or physically. Thirty to fifty percent of dating relationships can exhibit the same cycle of escalating violence in their marital relationships.
Physical punishment of children has also been linked to later
domestic violence. Family violence researcher
Murray A. Straus believes that disciplinary
spanking forms "the most prevalent and important form of violence in American families", whose effects contribute to several major societal problems, including later assaults on spouses. ==In politics==