Term Paper on "Domestic Violence No Place Like Home"

Term Paper 16 pages (4223 words) Sources: 7

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Domestic Violence

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Domestic Violence: the Scourge of Intimacy

Domestic violence is now considered a major crime and a serious health hazard. Roughly 2 to 4 million women are reported to be domestic violence victims each year. Technically, anyone can be a victim or an abuser as neither has no definite or consistent profile. Therapists and society in general view women victims as incapable of violence themselves. Depressed war veterans and veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder tend to perpetrate domestic violence more than any other tested group. Men and women victims have comparable victimization symptoms and signs. Involved individuals have formed partnerships with the State and legislations have been instituted to address the problem. Their effectiveness continues to be monitored.

Introduction

Review of Literature

Method

Bibliography

Introduction

Domestic violence consists of acts of violence or abuse against a person living in one's household, especially one's immediate family (Random House Unabridged Dictionary 2006). It is generally considered a major health risk ((Klotter 2004). The most common victim is a woman who is physically and/or emotionally abused by her husband or an intimate partner. Statistics reveal that there are approximately 2 to 4 million women victims every year. The emotionally abused are harder to discover and evaluate. There is no single or common profile of the victim or the abuser. She has no fixed age, race, educational level or socioeconomic status. Her abuser need not look cruel. He can be highly educated and even friendly and charming. However, drug abuse, unemployment and poverty can trigger or make the domestic situation worse. The desire of the abuser to take control over the victim is the true motivation. Social worker and violence prevention coordinator at Mayo Clinic Diana Patterson said that anger is not the greater reality in domestic violence. Rather it is the abuser's creating fear in the victim in wanting to overpower and control her in the relationship (Klotter).

There have been few studies on the incidence of domestic violence, which tends to be higher or more frequent among veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. Women are as often the victims of domestic violence as are men, according to statistics. Both of them display depressive disorders and recourse to marijuana use. Men victims also take to alcohol and suffer from anxiety. Partnerships between the States and the community have been tried to address this chronic social ill. Currently, society remains disinclined to accept that women can resort to violence to defend themselves from violence by their mates, according to a theory. On the other hand, therapists tend to view and evaluate domestic violence situations according to a customary heterosexual set-up and mind-set. And the Domestic Victims Crime of 2004 or DVCVA has endeavored to correct this error by including same-sex relationships in its purview. It outlaws domestic violence and has formed alliances with law enforcement agencies.

Literature Review

Blasko, K. et al. (2007). Therapists' Prototypical Assessment of Domestic Violence Situations. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy: Blackwell Publishing

The results of the study conducted by the authors say that the assessments of domestic violence depend on the couple's sexual orientation. The prototype paradigm sees the man as the perpetrator or abuser and the woman as the victim in heterosexual relationships. Under this paradigm, a man and a woman are equally victimized. In same-sex relationships, the identification of the victim and abuser is more varied, often with both partners as victim and perpetrator. Likewise in same-sex relationships, power is attributed less to the initiating partner and more for the non-initiating partner, as compare to heterosexual relationships. A study conducted among therapists showed that they perceived same-sex relationships to observe more equality among themselves than in heterosexual relationships. The study's findings indicated that therapists' prototypical behavior influences their clinical judgments. The difference may be their inability to apply the heterosexual concepts of perpetration and victimization to same-sex relationships. This implies that therapists are largely inclined towards the feminist perspective related to male perpetration. The assumed physical characteristics of the couple may influence therapists' assessment.

De la Hey, M. (2006). Gender Differences Seen in Consequences of Domestic Violence. Cross-Currents - the Journal of Addiction and Mental Health: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

The author writes that a Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study in New Zealand showed that women are more likely to experience psychiatric disorders from domestic violence than men. The study surveyed more than 1,000 persons from adolescence to early adulthood. It found that psychiatric disorders developed at age 18 with partner abuse between ages 24 and 26 and psychiatric disorders at age 26. Its Conflict Calendar showed that 38 women and 37 men got involved in abusive relationships. Men and women had comparable rates of victimization. Women who were involved in abusive relationships suffered from major depressive disorders and marijuana use. Men, on the other hand, developed depressive disorders, dependence on marijuana and alcohol and anxiety disorders.

Brammer, a. (2006). Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act of 2004. Journal of Adult Protection: Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Ltd.

The Family Law Act 1996 Part IV in England provided the principal remedies for domestic violence. It was amended by the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act of 2004, which strengthens the rights of victims and witnesses, lists new offenses and imposes stricter sanctions on abusers. A joint report revealed that only 5% of domestic violence cases end in conviction and the victims are often deprived access to civil remedies on account of limited access to legal assistance. The Family Law Act of 1996 afforded relief in the form of non-molestation orders and occupation orders against an "associated person." The term applied to anyone falling under any of the categories specified by Section 62. These were spouses, current or previous cohabiting persons, their relatives, those with parental responsibility and those who are neither married nor cohabiting but have or had some intimate personal relationship for some time. The Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act of 2004 or DVCVA has added same-sex couples to the category of cohabitants. Property owners, spouses and cohabitants were the only associated persons who could apply for an occupation order. It made a violation of a non-molestation order a crime, punishable by 5 years imprisonment. An associated person can be arrested for common assault. The courts can issue a restraining order to protect the victim even if the offender has been acquitted of a related offense. Structurally, it provides for a new code of practice to support and protect victims. It is for the observance of all criminal justice agencies. A commissioner for victims and witnesses oversees the new code. His duties include monitoring and insuring good practice, insuring the interests of victims and witnesses and the periodic review of the code. Non-observance of or non-compliance with the code is a ground for complaint for the victim or witness with the Parliamentary Commissioner.

The DVCVA also recognizes causing or allowing the death of a child or a vulnerable adult a new criminal offense. Examples are abused children who die as a result of abuse but the perpetrators colluded to avoid or frustrate the law and persons over 16 whose physical or mental disability significantly impairs their ability to protect themselves. The offense carries an imprisonment of up to 14 years. This reclassifies both adult and child abuse as serious offenses as likely alternatives to murder and manslaughter. It includes both commission or the act and its omission. The offender must have either caused the death of the abused child or vulnerable adult or aware of the risk but neglected to take reasonable steps to protect the victim. It requires that the death occurs from an anticipated risk, such a history of violence or neglect, and not accidents. It must also result from an "an unlawful act" committed by those 16 years old or older. It mandates a domestic homicide review of such situations to derive lessons to be learned from the death. Participating agencies include chief police officers in England and Wales, councils, local probation boards, health authorities and primary care trusts.

Sherman, M.D., et al. (2006). Domestic Violence in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Disorder who Seek Couples' Therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy: the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy study conducted among 176 couples seeking relationship therapy at the Family Mental Health Program found that domestic violence among veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and their partners was higher than in the general population. This population was also understudied. Results showed that depressed veterans and those suffering from PTSD tend to perpetrate domestic violence towards their partners more than other veterans by 80%. All surveyed couples expressed distress over their marriage or relationship, with the women experiencing less satisfaction. According to overall study findings, veterans suffering from PTSD tend to commit greater violence on their partners than veterans with adjustment or generic difficulties. They themselves admitted committing violence and severe violent acts than other veterans 5.4 times more. They reported anger or violence… READ MORE

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