A battery module , comprising: a first battery cell and a second battery cell respectively having a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead and connected to each other in series; and a short circuit inducing member having one longitudinal side interposed between the negative electrode lead of the first battery cell and the positive electrode lead of the second battery cell to be in contact therewith and the other longitudinal side located between the positive electrode lead of the first battery cell and the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell , wherein when a potential difference between the negative electrode lead of the first battery cell and the positive electrode lead of the second battery cell increases over a reference value, the other longitudinal side of the short circuit inducing member makes flexural deformation toward the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell to come into contact with the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell , wherein the short circuit inducing member includes: an electro active polymer (EAP) layer ; a first metal layer formed on one surface of the EAP layer ; and a second metal layer formed on the other surface of the EAP layer wherein the first metal layer is electrically connected to the negative electrode lead of the first battery cell , and the second metal layer is electrically connected to the positive electrode lead of the second battery cell , wherein when the short circuit inducing member makes the flexural deformation, the second metal layer comes into contact with the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell to induce a short circuit in the second battery cell . a first battery cell and a second battery cell respectively having a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead and connected to each other in series; and a short circuit inducing member having one longitudinal side interposed between the negative electrode lead of the first battery cell and the positive electrode lead of the second battery cell to be in contact therewith and the other longitudinal side located between the positive electrode lead of the first battery cell and the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell , wherein when a potential difference between the negative electrode lead of the first battery cell and the positive electrode lead of the second battery cell increases over a reference value, the other longitudinal side of the short circuit inducing member makes flexural deformation toward the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell to come into contact with the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell , wherein the short circuit inducing member includes: an electro active polymer (EAP) layer ; a first metal layer formed on one surface of the EAP layer ; and a second metal layer formed on the other surface of the EAP layer wherein the first metal layer is electrically connected to the negative electrode lead of the first battery cell , and the second metal layer is electrically connected to the positive electrode lead of the second battery cell , wherein when the short circuit inducing member makes the flexural deformation, the second metal layer comes into contact with the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell to induce a short circuit in the second battery cell . an electro active polymer (EAP) layer ; a first metal layer formed on one surface of the EAP layer ; and a second metal layer formed on the other surface of the EAP layer wherein the first metal layer is electrically connected to the negative electrode lead of the first battery cell , and the second metal layer is electrically connected to the positive electrode lead of the second battery cell , wherein when the short circuit inducing member makes the flexural deformation, the second metal layer comes into contact with the negative electrode lead of the second battery cell to induce a short circuit in the second battery cell . <EOS>