The simplest definition of domestic violence is violence perpetrated against a victim by someone in their domestic circle. This person can be a spouse, partner, ex-partner, or family member.
In most cases of domestic violence, the abuser uses their position of power to drive fear into the other person to control them.
Why Victims Stay
People that have never been through domestic abuse may find it difficult to understand why a victim of abuse fails to walk away from an abusive relationship. But there is more to abuse than meets the eye.
“Abusers will often issue threats of retaliation should the victims leave. In most cases, these threats are effective at keeping them submissive even in abuse,” says attorney Mark D. Sherman (Pictured).
At other times, economic dependence causes the victim to feel they cannot have a life away from the abuser because they depend on them exclusively for financial support. At other times, the abuser will isolate their victims from friends and relatives, meaning they will have nobody to turn to for help.
Others stay for love hoping their abuser will change at some point. So, if you are aware of someone in an abusive environment, it would be best to be patient with them and find the help they need to get out of their situation, which can include counseling.
Causes of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, and verbal. While the forms of violence can differ, the root causes of domestic violence are relatively the same.
Most abusers have a misguided sense of entitlement to exert control over others. Sometimes, this sense of entitlement can result from their personality or societal attitudes toward certain genders. Studies show that a person that grew up in an abusive environment tends to be abusive in the future.
Substance abuse is also a leading cause of domestic violence. Alcohol and substance use has a way of clouding judgment which can, at times, be a trigger for violent outbursts. Substance abuse can sometimes be a form of escaping underlying psychological or social issues. At other times, alcohol and substance abuse will cause other issues, such as financial problems, contributing to conflict and domestic violence.
Women More Likely to the Victims
Domestic violence is more likely to be directed toward women than men. According to data from WHO, 1 in every 3 women globally has experienced domestic violence. The main reason for the disproportionate number of women suffering domestic violence is traditional societal norms that portray women as somewhat subject to the control of men.
While women are more likely to have domestic violence directed at them than their male counterparts, cases of domestic violence directed toward men are not uncommon.
Unlike women, men rarely report domestic violence cases for fear of stigmatization, so there may never be a way of knowing the exact figures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1 in 4 men in the US has been through some form of physical violence.
Reach Out
If you are a victim of violence, help is not out of reach. All you need is to muster the courage to reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or 800-787-3224 or use their online chat feature to confidentially chat without fear of victimization.
Alternatively, look for someone you can trust and talk with them about your situation. In most cases, abusers don’t change, so the longer you stay, the longer you will experience suffering, which can ultimately result in life-altering consequences.
Source: Mark Sherman Law
