Domestic Violence
...ve to be home at specific time. One very important piece of information to remember: listen to the stories that women tell about their partner. She may mention that her partner has been abused as a child or his father abused his mother (A Better Way, 2001). These are potential clues that women might be victims of abuse, but they are not definite signs. Abuser Characteristics There is not a “typical” abuser. In many cases, the abuser will appear friendly and loving to their partner and family (A Better Way, 2001). The batter may excuse, rationalize, justify and minimize their violence against the female partner (Anderson, 2001 pp358-380). Usually people that commit domestic violence only do so behind closed doors (A Better Way, 2001). Often when the abuser violates the victim, they do so in ways that cause hidden injuries and do not require medical treatment. Victims may suffer physical injuries such as broken bones and bruises from the abuse. Over 170,000 women of domestic violence incidents are serious enough to require a doctor’s care, emergency response or hospitalization (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005). A batterer does not see the women as people, and do not respect women as a group. Instead, the batterer views women as personal property or sexual objects (Men Stopping Violence, 2004). They may be very dominant and controlling towards the women, or victim, or even the children in the household. Additional warning signs of a potential abuser consist of extreme jealously, possessiveness, a bad temper, unpredictability, cruelty to animals and verbal abusiveness (Men Stopping Violence, 2004). Types of Abuse There are fundamental differences in the types of abuse. Research reveals there are continues acts of aggressive behaviors towards spouse that may progress. Some of the abuse is: verbal aggression which includes insults, yelling, and name-calling. Some of the causes reported were jealousy, marital discord, misuse of partners’ power, and the need to control a partner (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005). Physical Aggression includes pushing, slapping, and shoving. An increase in aggression is caused by alcohol abuse, aggressive personality, prior child abuse, modeling physical aggressive behavior seen as a child, and the acceptance of violence as means to control others (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005). Severe Aggression includes beating, punching and hitting a partner with objects. At this point aggression progresses; it may be caused by a personality disorder, signs of emotional labiality and poor self-esteem. Aggression may accelerate causing the abuser to murder their partner (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005) Abuse, Rape and Pregnancy It is important to mention partners forcibly and violently rape 1.2 million women, more than once, every year (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005). Unfortunately, pregnant women and their baby may both be victims of abuse. Some abusers become jealous of the unborn child, which may cause an escalation of the abuse (Berlinger, 2001). Seventeen percent of pregnant women reported being battered which caused miscarriages, stillbirths, low birth weight, and premature babies. Women who have been battered experience twice the health care needs and cost of peers who have not been abused (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005). Non-Physical Abuse Most of the focus is on physical abuse, yet other types of abuse should be noted. There are five major categories of emotional abuse. Isolation involves the abuser to restrict the victim’s daily activities. Monitoring, questioning phone calls, and not allowing the partner to be involved with others outside the home. This may even include other family members. The abuser wants the partner to only be involved with them. Severe depression combined with low self-esteem may further the victims isolation from others (Berlinger, 2001). Economic abuse is when the abuser does not allow access to funds such as denying access to education, clothing, or medical care. A woman may not be allowed to work outside of the home. Humiliation and dreadful conditions occur against the victim of abuse (Berlinger, 2001). The abuser might say humiliating things around the victim’s family or friends. “Crazy-making” abuse is blaming the victim for the physical abuse against them, distortion of the victim’s state of reality, and other erratic behaviors to cause distress and make the victim feel like they are crazy (Berlinger, 2001). The most devastating is when the abuser makes suicidal threats against himself or herself or makes homicidal threats against the victim and the family(Berlinger, 2001). Murder of Partners Berlinger reported abusers often make threats to kill the victims, if she tries to leave. In addition, he found 70 percent of victims of domestic violence are killed by their abusers while trying to leave. It is important to note that men tend to murder their partners out of the need to control them and because of jealousy issues (Berlinger, 2001). Causes of Abuse Abuse is not accidental; the causes of aggressive behaviors can be very compound and have situational factors such as alcoholism, drug abuse, job stressors, unemployment or low income, low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, and having been victims themselves of child abuse (Berlinger, 2001). People in therapy for spousal abuse were surveyed, 60 percent of men were victims of child abuse while 44 percent had witnessed violence between their own parents (Berlinger, 2001). Abusers’ Beliefs Other factors to consider are the abusers personal beliefs about the aggressive acts against their partners. In higher income families, the abusers may feel they have a sense of entitlement. They believe that they are above the law and may make outrageous demands on their partners. When demands such as meeting his physical, sexual, or emotional needs, are not met, then the abuser becomes outraged (Berlinger, 2001). Other abusers may believe they are entitled to control other people or think violence is acceptable to produce the outcome he desires ( Berlinger, 2001) The ability for men to control their partners as a result of violent behaviors secures their perceived masculine identity. Abusers often deny any responsibility for violence, make excuses, rationalize and down play their violence against female partners. Men who abuse their partners may respond by stating their violence is a rational response to extreme frustration, a loss of self-control, or a minor incident that was blown out of proportion by the victim. The abuser may feel that the laws are for women and that men are the victims of discrimination (Berlinger, 2001). Ch...