Domestic Violence : Spousal Abuse

Typically, domestic violence occurs between a man and a woman, and usually, women end up being the victims more often then men (Heidensohn, 2012). The male is usually more dominant because he is bigger and significantly stronger then the female. However, in recent years, men have been experiencing their fair share of abuse from women. According to a study done by the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men, “Over 90% experienced controlling behaviors, and several men reported frustrating experiences with the domestic violence system. Callers’ reports indicated that their female abusers had a history of trauma, alcohol/drug problems, mental ill- ness, and homicidal and suicidal ideations” (Hines, 2007). This study measured 190 male callers who called the DAHM and the study shows that women can also batter men. This applies to the case of Jordan Graham and Cody Johnson because a wife murdered her husband. No one should ever underestimate someone else’s strength or aggression as those characteristics can be extremely hard to gauge. Cody Johnson may have had no prior knowledge of Graham’s temper and may have even felt as if he were the dominant figure in their marriage. Sometimes, it is easy to accuse a spouse of being the core reason for domestic abuse, whether it is verbal or physical abuse. However, domestic abuse can be seen as a problem for human beings in general, “Others have argued that violence is a

Domestic violence, alternatively referred to as Intimate Partner Violence, is defined by the Department of Justice as “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.” While domestic violence is commonly thought of as only physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence can also be emotional, economic, or psychological. Domestic violence has remained constant in society throughout history, even though over time society’s response to the issue has changed. While domestic violence affects everyone regardless of race, gender, age, etc. it is estimated that approximately 90% of all victims are women. For the purpose of this paper, I will be focusing on

Intimate partner abuse describes physical, sexual, and psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse (Fanslow, McMahon, Saltzman, & Shelley, 2002). Healthy people 2020 recognizes physical violence among intimate partners as a topic that should be addressed concerning injury and violence prevention in the United States (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Intimate Partner Abuse is an issue that often affects entire families, not just the person that is being abused. Several historical studies attempt to make a connection between intimate partner abuse and homeless. Browne 's research showed that 50 percent of the homeless women interviewed were the victims of abuse

The prevalence of domestic violence in the United States is that it is occurring far more often than many individuals would choose to admit. This form of violence is by no means new and culturally the problem itself does not discriminate, there is no specific criteria that completely omits one from becoming a victim of domestic violence. The dynamics of domestic violence consist of the aggressor utilizing violence to maintain dominance and control over the victim. The victimization that is consistent with domestic violence can come in various forms including, physical, sexual, psychological, mental/emotional, and financial. Domestic violence victimization is a cycle that usually is difficult to terminate by many victims as well as aggressors. Individuals involved in abusive relationships continue to remain in them for various reasons such as, maintaining financial stability, desire or hope that things will change overtime, fear that their abuser, will further harm them for leaving the relationship, embarrassment of their situation, or there may be children involved and the victims wants to avoid some of the harsh realities associated with a broken home. Oftentimes domestic violence victims blame themselves for the violence encountered by their abusers, figuring that if they do things differently the next time, maybe they won’t be victimized again by their partner. Conversely, violence committed by abusers is often self-driven and hinges on very minor actions executed by the

“For example, the relationship may be a current spouse, a former spouse, a family member, a child, parents of a child in common, unmarried persons of different genders living as spouses, intimate partners of the same gender, and dating relationships” (Findlaw). These definitions identify that victims may not be exclusively women, and domestic abuse may not just occur between heterosexual couples. The types of behavior frequently encountered in domestic violence are physical attacks, sexual attacks, psychological abuse, and the destruction of

“Domestic violence is a type of abuse by one or both partners in marriage, friends, family, dating or cohabitation” (Aziz & Mahmoud, 2010). There are many forms of abuse from verbal and emotional to physical that often escalates over time in intensity for the victim. Data from the criminal justice system, hospital patient medical records and mental health records, police reports, surveys and social services reports of thousands of women revealed that many are injured and killed as a result of violence from someone close to them. “The US Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender” (Robertson & Murachver, 2009). Researchers and the criminal justice system have not been able to agree on a clear definition to domestic violence which can range from physical injury, stalking, verbal abuse and humiliation, denial of shelter and access to money, and intimidation through aggressive behaviors. The definition of domestic violence may vary but the results from physical injury, mental and emotional trauma, and sometimes even death can last a life time.

More than 24 million people of the United States of America are victims of relationship abuse in a given year. Women are not the only sufferers because it happens to men too. Stoprelationshipabuse.org defines relationship abuse as “a pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors used to maintain power and control over a former or current intimate partner.” Sources say that it can stem from childhood experiences or caused by alcohol. Facts and myths cloud the subject and create misinterpretations on the causes. Either of these can create detrimental effects to the victims. Abuse is a choice that can be influenced by outside factors.

Intimate partner violence occurs among partners who are in a relationship. Such partners can either be married, engaged, and or dating and in either heterosexual or same-sex relationships. Both, male and females, can either be the victim or the perpetrator of such horrific episodes of violence against their partner. Women, for instance, are very aggressive and violent in self-defense while men, on the other hand, are most likely to engage in cycles of abuses and thus the notion that they are more violent and particularly against women (McLennan & MacMillan, 2016).

In the first place, in order to gain a complete understanding of intimate partner abuse, it is of great importance to examine what constitutes and shapes this type of maltreatment against woman. Even though legal definitions vary from one jurisdiction to another, the term intimate partner abuse is described as “a pattern of extremely aggressive and assertive conduct including physical, sexual and psychological attacks, as well as monetary intimidation utilized by adults or adolescents against current or former intimate partners (Child Rights International Network, 2006). Physical violence consists of hitting, smacking, shoving, spitting, kicking, threatening or use of a deadly weapon. Sexual violence is consisting of any sexual act committed against an individual without their willingly consent. The perpetrator may use excessive force, intimidation, and verbal threats in order to achieve maximum pleasure. Psychological abuse is a form of abuse that can have severe and unnoticeable physical

According to Philip W. Cook, U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) in its survey for 1992-1993, which was signed to produce more accurate reporting of intimate crime than surveys of previous years, one million women and 143,000 men were intimate violence. In previous studies, women reported an annual average of 572,032 spousal abuse cases, whereas men reported an annual average of 48,983 cases. Between 2001 and 2005, the average annual number of intimate crime cases declined again-dramatically for women, but less for men: 511,000 women and 105,000 men, respectively. The total number of victimized women in this survey continues to show evidence of decline. Although there has also been somewhat of a decline in the number of victimized men, the relative percentage of male victims continues to increase over the years, for example, from 15 percent in 1993 to 17 percent in 2005(abused men). This is a direct example which shows the increase in male victims and decrease of female victims in few years. Philip cook sets an example how many men’s are victimized by female

Domestic violence is a topic that is rarely discussed, especially when it is against a section of the public that is hardly at the receiving end. What comes to most people's minds when they hear of domestic violence is a vivid picture of woman at the mercy of an irresponsible man, probably well-built constantly inflicting pain of all sorts on her. However, statistics seem to suggest that it is not always the man who is the abuser. Sometimes, he is the abused. Information from the National Domestic Violence Hotline from a survey conducted in 2013 suggests that 1 in 10 men (10%) have experienced rape, physical violence and/stalking by a partner. This number may seem small compared to that of women (3 in 10) from the same survey, but this

Studies have shown that an increasing trend of domestic violence is being carried out in heterosexual relationships and homosexual relationships. Many of these cases involve the one partner being the abuser to their partner, also known as the victim, and the victim actively attempting to maintain in a normal state despite the silent suffering. Cases like this involve physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, and psychological violence. Domestic Violence is not just hitting, or fighting, or a mean argument. It’s about the abusers chronic need to be in control. The abuser tortures and controls the victim by threatening words, intimidation, and physically abusing them.

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men, according to the NCADV (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). Domestic violence, also termed as family violence or spousal abuse, is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. "[1]Domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality."Educating ourselves on understanding the causes of

Violence within the couple is a manifestation of power between men and women and can be demonstrate in many ways: physical, sexual, economic, psychological or emotional. For many women, these manifestations are difficult to detect and manage. The majority of violent men, manipulated to achieve greater control in the relationship. Manipulation is expressed in the form of blackmail, or emotional threats, such as removing or reducing objects, money or possessions; threaten to take the children away or damage them.

     Spousal Abuse is a rising issue today in the United States. Spousal Abuse affects individuals of all social classes and gender and both males and females are victims of spousal abuse. Abuse of men is not a topic commonly known or discussed in our society as easily as abuse of females for various reasons. However it is a topic that needs to be examined so men who are being abused know they are not alone and society treats it as problem and not over look it. Bedsides the individuals directly involved it also affects children, other family members and friends that surround them.