Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Over 80 percent of abusive partners had themselves either been victims of child abuse, or had witnessed their mothers being abused (www.wrcsc.org ). I believe Domestic Violence occurrences can be reduced or eliminated due to the occurrence in families, its relationship to alcohol or substance abuse, and that abusers usually have limited social skills.

Domestic Violence is defined as one person in a marital or intimate relationship who tries to control the other person (www.helpguide.org). Domestic Violence is a complex issue and victims and abusers alike probably do not understand why they are part of an abusive situation. I believe Domestic Violence, like any other problem can, if attacked at its roots can be reduced if not eliminated. The primary contributors to Domestic Violence I’ve discovered are family history, connection to alcohol, and social skills. The first step is identifying a problem exist. It is not unusual for women being abused and male abusers to think their relationship is normal. Abusers, in particular, may not realize the harmful effects of their behavior. They have learned this method of coping with problems from family members. However, any behavior that is learned can be unlearned and replaced with more appropriate coping mechanisms. An example of such an approach to reeducating perpetrators is the ITR program offered by Chestnut Health Systems. It is a two-step program that assists perpetrators and victims in developing and maintaining relationships that are respectful and violence free (chestnut.org). I don’t believe that anyone chooses to be an abuser; there are simply products of their environment.

It is debated quite fiercely by those who treat and or counsel victims of Domestic Violence, the significance awarded of alcohol or substance abuse. On the surface it would appear that any substance that impairs an individual’s judgment could contribute to domestic violence if it was involved. “The abusive man and men are the abusers in the overwhelming majority of domestic violence incidents-typically controls his actions, even when drunk or high, by choosing a place and time for the assaults to take place in private and go undetected “ (www.usda.gov ).” On the other hand, although experts agree there is a connection between the two behaviors, its precise nature remains unclear. “All major theorists point to the excessive use of alcohol as a key element in the dynamics of wife-beating, However, it is not clear whether a man is violent because he is drunk or whether he drinks to reduce his inhibitions against his violent behavior(www.health.org). So regardless of which came first, the chicken or the egg argument, the statistics remains. Researchers have found that one-fourth to one-half of men who commit acts of Domestic Violence also have substance abuse problems (www.health.org).

Another contributor to incidents of Domestic Violence is the lack of interpersonal relationship skills of perpetrators. Even if you consider family and substance abuse contributors the abuser who knows only violence as a way to solve problems remains. To protect women and children while also attempting to eliminate Domestic Violence incidents, the needs of abusers must be addressed. Treatment programs focusing on changing the behavior of abusers can stop the cycle of violence. Effective programs help abusers to grow in ways that enable them to: develop personal power, accept responsibility, let go of the need for unhealthy power, and develop a healthy self-identity (www.dvsolutions.org ).

Although there is significant support in the social service and law enforcement community, that these problems influence domestic violence, there are dissenters. Domestic Violence abusers often use the excuse of being abused themselves as children. Given their traumatic background, their defense is, they can’t help themselves. This is just a cop out. Yes, violence may have been normal for you when you were growing up, but it doesn’t have to be normal for you now. The truth is most people who grow up in a violent environment, don’t commit the same violence. There are many factors that contribute to Domestic Violence than family history (www.way2hope.org ).

When we look at the relationship between alcohol and substance abuse between domestic violence, researchers have found that one-fourth to one-half of men who commit Domestic Violence also have substance abuse problems (www. health.org). The fact is addictions are used as excuses to free the batterer from responsibility for the behavior. For example, this theory does not explain why the batterer use violence, why he targets a woman for abuse, or why he batters when sober. The addictive batterer but be treated for two separate problems- his addiction, and his violence (www.kdva.org).

The first thing one might consider when they initially think about Domestic Violence is that abusers are