Domestic Violence: Psychological Consequences and the Role of the Legal Framework in Algeria

Abstract

Domestic violence constitutes a major public health and societal issue, affecting the intimate, psychological, and legal spheres. It manifests in various forms—physical, psychological, verbal, sexual, or economic—and is often embedded in a dynamic of domination and control. Understanding its origins requires examining the individual, relational, and sociocultural factors that contribute to its emergence, as well as the psychological mechanisms that maintain victims in relationships characterized by fear, guilt, and emotional dependency. The consequences of such violence are profound: they impair victims’ mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, and also affect exposed children, resulting in emotional and behavioral disorders.

This article aims to analyze the various forms that domestic violence can take, to understand the underlying mechanisms, and to examine their psychological consequences. At the institutional level, it highlights the Algerian legal framework for the protection of women victims of violence, as well as Algeria’s international commitments, while also addressing certain limitations related to their implementation and the persistence of social and cultural inequalities.