Domestic Violence
Executive Summary
The question of why men or women abuse and why men and women are reluctant to end abusive relationships may seem abstract, but theories have important implications how to understand the problem (Sampson, 2006). “An ecological perspective conceptualizes violence as a complex problem rooted in the interactions among various factors at the individual, family and community/societal levels of an individual’s environment (WHO, 2002). Learned helplessness has been applied to domestic violence and battered women cases, due to the frame of mind that women are limited to, as well as to answer questions such as why women will not leave an abusive environment.
According to Barnett (1993), sex-roles play a major part in the perceptions of women; for example in regards to socialization women are taught that the norm is to rely upon a male partner for their attachment and support. On the opposite end, men are taught to be aggressive; women are instructed to be soft, and nurturing.
Domestic violence policies are designed to either reduce subsequent violence after an incident, or to deter potential violence. A new proposed social work policy or program that stems from learned helplessness theory would ensure the reporting of possible domestic violence more prominently. Recommendations for further research, practice, and social work policy should focus more on the long term effects of domestic violence within families.
A new proposed social work policy or program that stems from learned helplessness theory would ensure the reporting of possible domestic violence more prominently.
Abstract
Domestic Violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors that adults or adolescents use against their current or former intimate partners. The relationship may be one of marriage, cohabitation, or dating. There are several different aspects of domestic violence that include: physical, sexual, psychological, verbal, emotional, and economical.
The question of why men or women abuse and why men and women are reluctant to end abusive relationships may seem abstract, but theories have important implications how to understand the problem (Sampson, 2006). “An ecological perspective conceptualizes violence as a complex problem rooted in the interactions among various factors at the individual, family and community/societal levels of an individual’s environment (WHO, 2002). Learned helplessness has been applied to domestic violence and battered women cases, due to the frame of mind that women are limited to, as well as to answer questions such as why women will not leave an abusive environment.
According to Barnett (1993), sex-roles play a major part in the perceptions of women; for example in regards to socialization women are taught that the norm is to rely upon a male partner for their attachment and support. On the opposite end, men are taught to be aggressive; women are instructed to be soft, and nurturing.
Domestic violence policies are designed to either reduce subsequent violence after an incident, or to deter potential violence. A new proposed social work policy or program that stems from learned helplessness theory would ensure the reporting of possible domestic violence more prominently. Recommendations for further research, practice, and social work policy should focus more on the long term effects of domestic violence within families.
A new proposed social work policy or program that stems from learned helplessness theory would ensure the reporting of possible domestic violence more prominently.
Abstract
Domestic Violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors that adults or adolescents use against their current or former intimate partners. The relationship may be one of marriage, cohabitation, or dating. There are several different aspects of domestic violence that include: physical, sexual, psychological, verbal, emotional, and economical.
References: Bachman, R. and Coker, Ann. (1995). “Police involvement in domestic violence: The interactive effects of victim injury, offender’s history of violence, and Barnett, O.W., & LaViolette, A.D. (1993). It could happen to anyone: Why battered women stay. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. "Battered Families . . . Shattered Lives," (1992). Department of Human Resources Family Violence Manual, January 1992. Black, D Dale, O., Smith, R., Norlin, J., and Chess, W. (2009). Human behavior and the social environment: Social systems theory. Pearson: Boston, MA. Dingfelder, S.F. (2009). “Old problem, new tools,” American Psychological Association, 40(9), 40. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/10/helplessness.aspx. Kurz, D. (1989). Social science perspectives on wife abuse: Current debates and future directions. Gender and Society, 3,404, 489-505. Levendosky, A., Graham-Bermann, S. (2001). Parenting in battered women: The effects of domestic violence on women and their children. Journal of Family Violence, 16, 2, 171-192. Miller, J.C. (1981). “An application of learned helplessness theory to battered women.” Retrieved from ProQuest Digital Dissertations (AAT 6124688) Missouri HB 1525, Missouri Senate, (2012) Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission. Missouri sentencing laws. Missouri Law 455.085.7-8 RSMo. http://www.mosac.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=45392. Retrieved April 11, 2012 Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission. Missouri sentencing laws. Missouri Law Section 557.011, RSMo. http://www.mosac.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=45392. Retrieved April 11, 2012. Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission. Missouri sentencing laws. http://www.mosac.mo.gov http://www.mosac.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=45392. Retrieved April 11, 2012 Modifies provisions of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse New Missouri Law: 2011. www.mocadsv.org/Resources/CMSResources/pdf/LegislativeUpdates/. Retrieved April 11, 2012. Sampson, R Straus, M., Gelles, R., & Steinmetz, S. (1980). Behind closed doors: Violence in the American family. Garden City, NY: Anchor/Doubleday.pdf. 1999 Walker, L Walker, L.E. (2009). The battered woman syndrome. New York, NY. Springer Publishing Company, LLC. World report on violence and health: summary