DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
It refers to a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation. Some of salient characteristics of domestic violence are given as under,
• It causes severe physical and or mental pain
• Intentionally inflicted
• For specified purposes
• With some form of official involvement, whether active or passive
FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
All forms of domestic abuse have one purpose: to gain and maintain total control over the victim. Abusers use many tactics to exert power over their spouse or partner: dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, denial and blame. Forms of domestic violence are,
• Physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, throwing objects), or threats
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Controlling or domineering
• Intimidation
• Stalking
• Passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect)
• Economic deprivation.
THEORIES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
There are many different theories as to the causes of domestic violence. These include psychological theories that consider personality traits and mental characteristics of the offender, as well as social theories which consider external factors in the offender's environment, such as family structure, stress, social learning. As with many phenomena regarding human experience, no single approach appears to cover all cases.
• Psychological
• Social theories
• Resource theory
• Social stress
• Social learning theory
MODEL OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HONEYMOON PHASE
It is characterized by affection, apology, and apparent end of violence. During this stage the batterer feels overwhelming feelings of remorse and sadness. Some batterers walk away from the situation, while others shower their victims with love and affection.
TENSION BUILDING PHASE
It is characterized by poor communication, tension, fear of causing outbursts. During this stage the victims try to calm the batterer down, to avoid any major violent confrontations.
ACTING-OUT PHASE
It is characterized by outbursts of violent, abusive incidents. During this stage the batterer attempts to dominate his/her partner (victim), with the use of domestic violence.
MYTHS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
According to Bancroft the following statements are myths, they are give as under
• Abuse is caused by a loss of control
• Too much anger causes abuse
• Abusers are always mentally ill
• Abusers have low self-esteem
• Alcohol or drug abuse causes abuse
FACTORS THAT PERPETUATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence behaviors are learned and reinforced in the family as well as in all of society's major institutions - legal, social, religious, educational, medical and mental health. Male violence against women in intimate relationships is a social problem condoned and supported by the customs and traditions of a particular society. Main factors of domestic violence are,
CULTURAL
• Gender-specific socialization
• Cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles
• Expectations of roles within relationships
• Belief in the inherent superiority of males
• Values that give men proprietary rights over women and girls
• Notion of the family as the private sphere and under male control
• Customs of marriage (bride price/dowry)
• Acceptability of violence as a means to resolve conflict
ECONOMIC
• Women’s economic dependence on men
• Limited access to cash and credit
• Discriminatory laws regarding inheritance, property rights, use of communal lands, and maintenance after divorce or widowhood
• Limited access to employment in formal and informal sectors
• Limited access to education and training for women
LEGAL
• Lesser legal status of women either by written law and/or by practice
• Laws regarding divorce, child custody, maintenance and inheritance
• Legal definitions of rape and domestic abuse
• Low levels of legal literacy among women
• Insensitive treatment of women and girls by police and judiciary
POLITICAL
• Under-representation of women in power, politics, the media and in the legal and medical professions
• Domestic violence not taken seriously
• Notions of family being private and beyond control of the state
• Risk of challenge to status quo/religious laws
• Limited organization of women as a political force
• Limited participation of women in organized political system
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE
• PRE-BIRTH: Sex-selective abortion; effects of battering during pregnancy on birth outcomes.
• INFANCY: Female infanticide; physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
• GIRLHOOD: Child marriage; female genital mutilation; physical, sexual and psychological abuse; incest; child prostitution and pornography.
• ADOLESCENCE AND ADULTHOOD: Dating and courtship violence (e.g. acid throwing and date rape) economically coerced sex (e.g. school girls having sex with “sugar daddies” in return for school fees); incest; sexual abuse in the workplace; rape; sexual harassment; forced prostitution and pornography; trafficking in women; partner violence; marital rape; dowry abuse and murders; partner homicide; psychological abuse; abuse of women with disabilities; forced pregnancy.
• ELDERLY: Forced “suicide” or homicide of widows for economic reasons; sexual, physical and psychological abuse.
MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEL
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse and rape in intimate relationships
• Psychological and emotional abuse
• Femicide
• Sexual abuse of children and adolescents
• Sex-selective abortions, female infanticide and differential access to food and medical care
• Traditional and cultural practices affecting the health and lives of women
• Forced prostitution
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence invades the public and private lives of women, men, and children, impacting families, friends, co-workers, and communities. Domestic violence crosses all socioeconomic and cultural boundaries. Some of major impacts are given as under
• Emotional withdrawal
• Denial or minimization of the abuse
• Impulsivity or aggressiveness
• Apprehension or fear
• Helplessness
• Anger
• Anxiety or hyper vigilance
• Disturbance of eating or sleeping patterns
• Substance abuse
• Depression
• Suicide
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• Denial of fundamental rights
• Depression
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Sexual dysfunction
• Eating problems
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Suicide
• Health and behavior problems in children
• Personality disorders and mental illness
• Drugs, licit and illicit
• Disabilities and aging
• Self neglect
• Sleep disorders
COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
While many attempts have been made to explore the extent of domestic violence, we will never accurately know how much goes on in the community. Few victims report abuse to service providers who might collect statistics, or to police. Indeed, few victims discuss it with family members or friends. In part this is because of social taboos that prevent open discussion of the issue. The fact the domestic violence is learned means that the perpetrator's behavior can be changed. Most individuals can learn not to batter if there is sufficient motivation for changing that behavior. Strategies for addressing domestic violence have traditionally been strongly victim-focused, with a heavy emphasis on helping victims avoid patterns of intimacy with abusers, disengage from abusers with whom they are involved, physically remove themselves from abusive settings, and, ex post facto, address the damage created by abuse and patterns of abuse. Criminal justice strategies focused on offenders have not played a large part in thinking about preventing domestic violence. Where criminal justice strategies have played a prominent role, as in the movement toward mandatory arrest, they have often done so primarily as a means of signaling a social commitment to taking domestic violence seriously; as a way to force abusers into treatment; and/or as part of a long-term strategy to “break the cycle” of domestic violence rather than with any strong hope that abusive men will be effectively controlled. But in general there has been little hope evidenced that offenders could be powerfully and directly controlled through criminal justice strategies. This paper will address why this has been the case, explore what is known about the offending patterns of domestic violence perpetrators, and address innovative strategies for controlling such offenders. In particular, focused deterrence approaches taking advantage of the offending characteristics of the most serious domestic abusers will be addressed. Some of steps that can help a long way in this regard are given as under
• Equal protection of the law
• Domestic violence as torture
• Criminalization
• Legislation
MODEL OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Individual-level influences are personal history factors that increase the likelihood of becoming an IPV victim or perpetrator. Examples include attitudes and beliefs that support IPV, isolation, and a family history of violence. Prevention strategies at this level are often designed to promote attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that support intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust. Specific approaches may include education and life skills training.
Relationship-level influences are factors that increase risk because of relationships with peers, intimate partners, and family members. A person's closest social circle - peers, partners, and family members-influence their behavior, and contribute to their range of experience. Prevention strategies at this level may include mentoring and peer programs designed to promote intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust.
The community level of the model examines the contexts in which social relationships are embedded-such as schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods-and seeks to identify the characteristics of these settings that are associated with victims or perpetrators of violence. Prevention strategies at this level are typically designed to impact the climate, processes, and policies in a given system. Social norm and social marketing campaigns are often used to foster community climates that promote intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust.
Societal-level influences are larger, macro-level factors, such as gender inequality, religious or cultural belief systems, societal norms, and economic or social policies that influence IPV. Prevention strategies at this level typically involve collaborations by multiple partners to promote social norms, policies, and laws that support gender and economic equality and foster intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust.
It refers to a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation. Some of salient characteristics of domestic violence are given as under,
• It causes severe physical and or mental pain
• Intentionally inflicted
• For specified purposes
• With some form of official involvement, whether active or passive
FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
All forms of domestic abuse have one purpose: to gain and maintain total control over the victim. Abusers use many tactics to exert power over their spouse or partner: dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, denial and blame. Forms of domestic violence are,
• Physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, throwing objects), or threats
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Controlling or domineering
• Intimidation
• Stalking
• Passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect)
• Economic deprivation.
THEORIES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
There are many different theories as to the causes of domestic violence. These include psychological theories that consider personality traits and mental characteristics of the offender, as well as social theories which consider external factors in the offender's environment, such as family structure, stress, social learning. As with many phenomena regarding human experience, no single approach appears to cover all cases.
• Psychological
• Social theories
• Resource theory
• Social stress
• Social learning theory
MODEL OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HONEYMOON PHASE
It is characterized by affection, apology, and apparent end of violence. During this stage the batterer feels overwhelming feelings of remorse and sadness. Some batterers walk away from the situation, while others shower their victims with love and affection.
TENSION BUILDING PHASE
It is characterized by poor communication, tension, fear of causing outbursts. During this stage the victims try to calm the batterer down, to avoid any major violent confrontations.
ACTING-OUT PHASE
It is characterized by outbursts of violent, abusive incidents. During this stage the batterer attempts to dominate his/her partner (victim), with the use of domestic violence.
MYTHS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
According to Bancroft the following statements are myths, they are give as under
• Abuse is caused by a loss of control
• Too much anger causes abuse
• Abusers are always mentally ill
• Abusers have low self-esteem
• Alcohol or drug abuse causes abuse
FACTORS THAT PERPETUATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence behaviors are learned and reinforced in the family as well as in all of society's major institutions - legal, social, religious, educational, medical and mental health. Male violence against women in intimate relationships is a social problem condoned and supported by the customs and traditions of a particular society. Main factors of domestic violence are,
CULTURAL
• Gender-specific socialization
• Cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles
• Expectations of roles within relationships
• Belief in the inherent superiority of males
• Values that give men proprietary rights over women and girls
• Notion of the family as the private sphere and under male control
• Customs of marriage (bride price/dowry)
• Acceptability of violence as a means to resolve conflict
ECONOMIC
• Women’s economic dependence on men
• Limited access to cash and credit
• Discriminatory laws regarding inheritance, property rights, use of communal lands, and maintenance after divorce or widowhood
• Limited access to employment in formal and informal sectors
• Limited access to education and training for women
LEGAL
• Lesser legal status of women either by written law and/or by practice
• Laws regarding divorce, child custody, maintenance and inheritance
• Legal definitions of rape and domestic abuse
• Low levels of legal literacy among women
• Insensitive treatment of women and girls by police and judiciary
POLITICAL
• Under-representation of women in power, politics, the media and in the legal and medical professions
• Domestic violence not taken seriously
• Notions of family being private and beyond control of the state
• Risk of challenge to status quo/religious laws
• Limited organization of women as a political force
• Limited participation of women in organized political system
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE
• PRE-BIRTH: Sex-selective abortion; effects of battering during pregnancy on birth outcomes.
• INFANCY: Female infanticide; physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
• GIRLHOOD: Child marriage; female genital mutilation; physical, sexual and psychological abuse; incest; child prostitution and pornography.
• ADOLESCENCE AND ADULTHOOD: Dating and courtship violence (e.g. acid throwing and date rape) economically coerced sex (e.g. school girls having sex with “sugar daddies” in return for school fees); incest; sexual abuse in the workplace; rape; sexual harassment; forced prostitution and pornography; trafficking in women; partner violence; marital rape; dowry abuse and murders; partner homicide; psychological abuse; abuse of women with disabilities; forced pregnancy.
• ELDERLY: Forced “suicide” or homicide of widows for economic reasons; sexual, physical and psychological abuse.
MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEL
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse and rape in intimate relationships
• Psychological and emotional abuse
• Femicide
• Sexual abuse of children and adolescents
• Sex-selective abortions, female infanticide and differential access to food and medical care
• Traditional and cultural practices affecting the health and lives of women
• Forced prostitution
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence invades the public and private lives of women, men, and children, impacting families, friends, co-workers, and communities. Domestic violence crosses all socioeconomic and cultural boundaries. Some of major impacts are given as under
• Emotional withdrawal
• Denial or minimization of the abuse
• Impulsivity or aggressiveness
• Apprehension or fear
• Helplessness
• Anger
• Anxiety or hyper vigilance
• Disturbance of eating or sleeping patterns
• Substance abuse
• Depression
• Suicide
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• Denial of fundamental rights
• Depression
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Sexual dysfunction
• Eating problems
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Suicide
• Health and behavior problems in children
• Personality disorders and mental illness
• Drugs, licit and illicit
• Disabilities and aging
• Self neglect
• Sleep disorders
COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
While many attempts have been made to explore the extent of domestic violence, we will never accurately know how much goes on in the community. Few victims report abuse to service providers who might collect statistics, or to police. Indeed, few victims discuss it with family members or friends. In part this is because of social taboos that prevent open discussion of the issue. The fact the domestic violence is learned means that the perpetrator's behavior can be changed. Most individuals can learn not to batter if there is sufficient motivation for changing that behavior. Strategies for addressing domestic violence have traditionally been strongly victim-focused, with a heavy emphasis on helping victims avoid patterns of intimacy with abusers, disengage from abusers with whom they are involved, physically remove themselves from abusive settings, and, ex post facto, address the damage created by abuse and patterns of abuse. Criminal justice strategies focused on offenders have not played a large part in thinking about preventing domestic violence. Where criminal justice strategies have played a prominent role, as in the movement toward mandatory arrest, they have often done so primarily as a means of signaling a social commitment to taking domestic violence seriously; as a way to force abusers into treatment; and/or as part of a long-term strategy to “break the cycle” of domestic violence rather than with any strong hope that abusive men will be effectively controlled. But in general there has been little hope evidenced that offenders could be powerfully and directly controlled through criminal justice strategies. This paper will address why this has been the case, explore what is known about the offending patterns of domestic violence perpetrators, and address innovative strategies for controlling such offenders. In particular, focused deterrence approaches taking advantage of the offending characteristics of the most serious domestic abusers will be addressed. Some of steps that can help a long way in this regard are given as under
• Equal protection of the law
• Domestic violence as torture
• Criminalization
• Legislation
MODEL OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Individual-level influences are personal history factors that increase the likelihood of becoming an IPV victim or perpetrator. Examples include attitudes and beliefs that support IPV, isolation, and a family history of violence. Prevention strategies at this level are often designed to promote attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that support intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust. Specific approaches may include education and life skills training.
Relationship-level influences are factors that increase risk because of relationships with peers, intimate partners, and family members. A person's closest social circle - peers, partners, and family members-influence their behavior, and contribute to their range of experience. Prevention strategies at this level may include mentoring and peer programs designed to promote intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust.
The community level of the model examines the contexts in which social relationships are embedded-such as schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods-and seeks to identify the characteristics of these settings that are associated with victims or perpetrators of violence. Prevention strategies at this level are typically designed to impact the climate, processes, and policies in a given system. Social norm and social marketing campaigns are often used to foster community climates that promote intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust.
Societal-level influences are larger, macro-level factors, such as gender inequality, religious or cultural belief systems, societal norms, and economic or social policies that influence IPV. Prevention strategies at this level typically involve collaborations by multiple partners to promote social norms, policies, and laws that support gender and economic equality and foster intimate partnerships based on mutual respect, equality, and trust.
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