Chapter 13Violence And Abuse In Relationships

Definitions of Violence, Abuse and Neglect Abuse In Dating/Marriage Relationships Violence In Relationships Effects Of Abuse Cycle of Abuse Child Abuse Parent, Sibling and Elder Abuse

Examples of Physical Abuse

Pushing, grabbing or shoving. Throwing something at partner. Slapping, hitting Forcing sex on partner.

Examples of Emotional Abuse

Threatening to leave partner. Controlling whom the partner associates with. Cutting off partner from family. Controlling the money to ensure dependence. Refusing to talk to partner. Accusing partner of infidelity.

Abuse In Dating Relationships

30% of individuals report abuse in dating. Abuse occurs in heterosexual and homosexual

relationships Many abused spouses report their partner

never mistreated them during dating and courtship.

Forms of Violence Against Women

Common couple violence: Response to conflicts of everyday life, motivated by a need to control in the specific situation.

Patriarchal terrorism: Man feels he must control woman completely because he thinks he owns her.

Violence in Relationships

Cultural Explanations American society imbued with violence. Corporal punishment increases violence in

child’s life as an adult. Traditional gender roles teach men to be

aggressive and women to be submissive.

Violence in Relationships

Community Factors Social isolation Poverty Inaccessible community services

Violence in Relationships

Individual And Family Factors Psychopathology: low tolerance for frustration,

need to control Alcohol/drug abuse Abusive parents

Characteristics of Abusive Partners

Extremely dependent on their partner. Jealous, possessive and suspicious. Have excessive need to control. Unhappy and dissatisfied with their life. Aggressive with poor impulse control.

Characteristics of Abusive Partners

Move quickly into an intimate, committed relationship.

Blame others for problems. Cut partner off from family and friends. Alcohol/drug abuse

Effects Of Partner Abuse

35 % of women who seek emergency room services are suffering from battering injuries.

Psychological effects include feelings of helplessness, humiliation, anxiety and suicide attempts.

March of Dimes estimates that most birth defects are due to physical abuse.

Cycle of Abuse

Perpetrator abuses partner. Asks for forgiveness. Acts civil until trust of partner is regained. Abuses partner again.  

Why people remain in abusive relationships

Love Emotional dependency: rather stay in abusive

relationship than be alone. Commitment to relationship: “till death do us

part” implies acceptance of abuse. Hope that partner will change.

Why people remain in abusive relationships

Feel that abuse is legitimate part of intimate relationship.

Would feel guilty for breaking up family. Fear of what partner will do to them if they

leave. Economic dependence Isolation

Process of Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Seed of doubt - Question whether they deserve such treatment.

Turning point - Event that has an impact on the motivation to leave the relationship.

Objective reflection - Abused partner views the relationship from a detached point of view.

Process of Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Cognitive shift - Shift from focus on staying in relationship to getting out of it.

Leaving and moving on - Very painful to disengage, call police/friend, pack clothes, move out, leave town.

Factors Associated with Child Abuse and Neglect

Pregnancy is premarital or unplanned and one of the parents does not want the child.

Mother-infant attachment is lacking. Child suffers from developmental disabilities or

mental retardation.

Factors Associated with Child Abuse and Neglect

Childrearing techniques are strict and harsh and include little positive reinforcement.

Parents are unemployed. Abuse between husband and wife. Children are adopted or foster children.

Effects of Child Abuse on Victims

Social relationships more tenuous, less likely to trust.

Aggressiveness - If child was hit, they are likely to model behavior.

Communication problems and learning disabilities.

Effects of Child Abuse on Victims

Physical injuries: disfigurement, scarring, death.

Increased risk of alcohol abuse to dull the pain. Post traumatic stress disorder

Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

Women report having sex earlier in their teens and are more likely to bear a child before 19.

Lower self esteem, higher levels of depression and antisocial behavior among females.

Most devastating when abuse is prolonged, involves intercourse and is perpetrated by father or step father.

Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

Males tend to develop negative self-concept, sleep disorders, and sexual dysfunctions.

Post traumatic stress disorder and heavy alcohol use is common.

Lower marital satisfaction. Daughters of mothers who were abused are

3.6 times more likely to be sexually victimized.

Forms of Elder Abuse

Neglect Physical abuse Psychological abuse Social abuse Legal abuse