Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Understanding Domestic Violence and Its Affects Heidi L. Shank-Bridges Liberty University

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Abstract

Domestic Violence is a problem of epidemic proportion in the United States. It affects everyone whether they are the victim, the batterer, or a member of society. Domestic Violence comes in the way of multiple forms and has expanded outside of the husband and wife arena, as in years past to now include violence between boyfriend and girlfriend, parent and child, and violence between siblings. In some states domestic violence is defined as violence between a boyfriend and girlfriend who do not live together but do have a child in common. Domestic violence affects every community. Largely affected are the law enforcement officers who are at risk of prospective danger by responding to a domestic violence call. Domestic violence is affecting younger children in grades as low as elementary school through high school. Domestic Violence shelters are available to assist victims; however, while shelters appear to be a capacity for the most part, there is a greater concern for the underutilization of shelters and why, when shelters are available, are they not being used? Is there a cure for this growing problem?

Keywords: domestic violence, shelters, victims,

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence was at one time thought to be a personal family matter, but it is now considered an issue affecting entire communities both socially and fiscally primarily due to the higher rates of physical health problems received from violent acts from assault, rape and the stress of living in such an environment. The cost of health related affect due to domestic violence is very close to $6 million per year and the cost affect due to a loss of employment and productivity is close to $1.8 billion per year (Martin, 2011). Although many states have some type of accountability for the abuser/batterer, whether it result in an arrest, whether it be handled in accordance to the mandated laws, or the police discretionary judgment is used there will always be a bigger concern than just the safety of the victim, there is a concern for public safety as well. Domestic violence has no age limit, no gender limitations, no economic limitations, and no religious limitation. Therein the question lies, does location of a victim matter? In a study completed in 2010 by Andrea Hetling and Haiyan Zhang, both of the State University of New Jersey says yes, location matters. Their study states that community has a large percentage of risk factors where domestic violence is concerned. After extensive research it was determined that victims who suffer from economic disadvantages on a community level are at a higher likelihood of experiencing domestic violence (Hetling, A., 2010). Law enforcement across the country has seen an increase in domestic violence calls. Law enforcement officers, in general, have reported feeling vulnerable when they are dispatched to a domestic violence or a domestic dispute call. The calls are so unpredictable when responding to a domestic dispute. Mandatory prosecution requires that prosecutors move

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE forward with or without the victims on board. Pro-prosecution policies favor prosecution over allowing victims to drop the charges, which was common practice at one the time. There is little known about how these changes affected victims willingness to use services. Although there is a mandatory policy regarding how to proceed in a domestic violence call, most law enforcement officers still take into consideration the victims request before they proceed with making an arrest. It is the belief of law enforcement that the victim knows or should know the batterer better than the law does and they will or should know how to defuse the situation without creating a more volatile environment (Horwitz, 2011). There are factors that police take into consideration when making a determination to initiate an arrest in a domestic violence case regardless of the victims wishes. Whether or not alcohol was consumed prior to an incident of domestic violence is one factor. Another is whether the batterer has a history of domestic violence. There is also the consideration given to

whether injury occurred to the victim and if a weapon was used in the commission of the offense. Taking these factors into consideration, law enforcement intervention is a necessity. Law enforcement officers, in some areas, have to contemplate whether or not the incarceration of the batterer will make them angrier as opposed to deterring them from attacking the victim again which is exactly what happened to Melissa Dohme, a 20 year old woman from Florida, who was stabbed 32 times by an ex-boyfriend who had been arrested and released for attacking Melissa less than a month prior (Helfand, 2012). Officers often experience frustration in this area while doing their job. No officer wants to feel responsible for heightening a batterers anger to the point that upon release from incarceration the victim is beaten worse than before the arrest or inevitably killed (Horwitz, 2011). Though law enforcement officers feel that there needs to be an increase in intervention and how it relates to domestic violence situations. If there is the

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE possibility of earlier intervention with these types of cases, at an earlier age for children of

domestic violence, then law enforcement officers may be able to assist victims and their children with protective interventions such as protective orders (Hester, 2010). When considering the victim in domestic violence or domestic dispute cases, there is more to consider that just the victim who has been physically harmed, there are silent victim as well, the children who witness such violence. Some children and adults alike have a misconception that children who have never been victims of physical harm are not really victimized. This is not so, they become the secondary victims because of what they see. These are the victims who are taught to lie to teachers, friends and neighbors about what happens in their homes. These are the children who are not only witnessing violence, they carry the guilt for the violence with them and its effects into their adult lives. One risk they face is the risk of not being believed when they do tell someone. When a child has witnessed domestic violence and they are ready to say something to anyone who will listen, it is likely that the batter has already convinced them that no one will believe them if they do tell, or they are brainwashed into believing that child services will come into the home and separate the family. No child wants to be separated from their parents and siblings. Domestic violence is viewed as a risk factor when looking at child protection issues. Most women/mothers who are victims of domestic violence fear that if they take the initiative to summon help, law enforcement will call child protective services and they will have their children removed for failure to protect them. It is no secret that when child protection services is called, many of the case workers who respond give the mother, who is also the victim, a choice, that is leave the home or lose your children (Hester, 2010). When this type of control over the victim is obtained by the batterer; and there is not support from a case worker whose job should be to support the victim but there is not support,

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE then there is no limit to the amount of abuse any one child will witness in their lifetime before they say anything to anyone (Feldman, 2011). Children suffer and carry the negatives consequences of domestic violence. Children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to suffer from behavioral, emotional, and cogitative problems. Children have been found to be more anxious, carry more aggression, suffer from low self-esteem, suffer from sleep disorders and have lower verbal and motor abilities verses children who have not grown up in witnessing or exposed to domestic violence or domestic violence situations (Miller, 2009).

Coping with the trauma of witnessing domestic violence is difficult for children and often coping is not so much an option as just suppressing their feelings. When feelings are suppressed long enough the suppression eventually becomes denial. A study was done regarding childhood victimization and coping with Intimate Partner Violence in 2010 regarding the effects of primary and secondary victimization. The study concluded that primary childhood victimization exist wherein direct child abuse and neglect exists and secondary childhood victimization exists when a child witnesses parental violence during childhood. While they both have a documented impact on child development, the increase vulnerability for intimate partner violence in adulthood increases (Popescu, M., 2010). In looking at different ways of coping strategies, as well as the individual risks and resiliency, the findings from this study indicated that using avoidance as a coping mechanisms, like denial, are associated with increased symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Popescu, M., 2010). Interesting to discover in this study was that a history of abuse shown to relate to additional trauma and a number of difficulties throughout adult life. Also interesting to know is by witnessing violence between parents, the risk of self-destroying behaviors such as becoming a victim of domestic violence increases. Also interesting to know is that childhood victimization

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

was not measured by the severity with regard to coping skills. Keeping the coping skills in mind and the ability to effectively cope with the victimization of abuse whether it is primary or secondary abuse, one must understand what abuse is before effective coping skills can be developed (Popescu, M., 2010). There are various forms of abuse that occur in relationships, physical abuse which occurs when there is a physical unwanted touch such as a punch, kick, slap and so forth. A form of physical abuse is also sexual abuse. When a woman says No to sexual activity and No is not respected, that is an unwanted physical touch, therefore making it physical/sexual abuse. Then

there is emotional abuse, which often occurs, and many question whether it rises to the level of abuse. Emotional abuse occurs when one degrades, demeans, and belittles another by taking away from their self-esteem and injuring there emotion or mental well-being. Then there is financial abuse. Financial abuse occurs when one person depends on another for financial support to live or survive in some cases, but the abuser withholds the financial means from that person. There are also many forms of domestic violence. The obvious form and most known form is physical violence because physical signs of abuse are most noticeable. In years past this was thought to be a problem that existed between a husband and wife. There are often signs prior to physical abuse that occurs in a relationship before it escalates to the point of physical violence. When those signs are ignored, and children are exposed to witness such abuse both the batterer and the victim create a new victim, the child/witness. One issue when creating this victim is that the child witness often grows up angry and not as much of the anger is focused on the batterer as it is on the victim, who is often the mother.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE The anger is focused on the mother for many reasons but one of the biggest reasons for

this anger is the fact that the victim is forcing the child victim to have to grow up and become an adult at a very early age. A child victim is all but forced into accepting this responsibility in an effort to simply survive. In cases where there is more than one child in the home witnessing such violence, the older child tends to become the mother or grown up in the home and step into the protective role by removing younger siblings from the immediate environment so they dont have to witness the violence (Stanley N., 2012). When any child has to step in and become the protector for the remaining siblings in the home, they will grow up with feelings of anger just because they understand that what they did in becoming a protector was necessary, it is not their responsibility. While there are many reasons, some members of society call excuses, why victims do not leave a situation that is violent, what is not understood is that it is not as easy from a victims point of view to just leave. One of the biggest factors to consider from a victims point of view is fear. Just as there are many forms of abuse, there are many forms of fear that coincide with being a victim. There is fear of further physical violence; there is financial abuse, and emotional abuse. A common statement is this "If you ever leave me I will kill you and your family". There is fear of being able to make it without the assistance that the abuser providing such as financial support. Another thing to consider when leaving a situation with violence is that many times the victim may be pregnant, which then magnifies the situation. What many victims in this situation do not understand is the connection between violence and emotional abuse which may have occurred prior to becoming pregnant, which most victims do not see as abuse. There are studies that have been conducted and have found that physical violence often occurs during pregnancy

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

and if physical violence occurred prior to becoming pregnant, then it increases during pregnancy. Surprising to learn from this study was that the age group at the greatest risk was between the ages of 20 and 34 due to the fact that they are in the peak of their child bearing years. This study further stated that women are five times greater a risk for violence when they come from lower income areas. (Aizer, A. 2010). Another study regarding domestic violence and pregnancy by Elizabeth Smith in 2008 revealed very interesting perspectives as to why women do not leave violent situations, especially if they are expecting a child. In this study she relayed how there is a disconnect between the public and private lives of domestic violence victims wherein the ideal life of being pregnant is displayed in public and the private life of physical abuse is kept hidden from the public. A very good point made was how society views pregnant women who are victims of abuse as disgusting, mainly because society does not have an understanding of what a victim is enduring. Pregnant victims of domestic violence are likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder and depression during the postpartum period. Her research also indicated that pregnant victims of violence are likely to have more complications during pregnancy such as preterm labor, late prenatal care or no prenatal care as well as low weight infants. Within her research she refers to a study conducted by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2006, which found that there was an increase of infant mortality when a pregnant victim is exposed to domestic violence during pregnancy (Smith, 2008). With all the research and knowledge of domestic violence and its affects, there are still many misconceptions about abuse victims yet society has accepted these misconceptions to be fact. There are those who reside in society who simply believe that victims have safe places to go and they should just leave and go to a shelter. While it is true, there is domestic violence

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

10

shelters for victims there are also reasons why they are not utilized. Shelters are among the most common interventions for domestic violence, they are designed to help female victims of male battering to leave the home and relationship and to develop skills, resources, and support for safe and independent living (Tolan, 2006). It was not until the 1970s there was an increase in public awareness through research and media attention for domestic violence. In the 1970s a nowhere to go rallying call was made to bring the need for cognizant need for shelter services to the public. At this time in history, what males once considered and called discipline or obedience was now being defined as abuse and violence. By defining domestic violence in the 1970s, the public recognition for improved services and increases interventions by police officers was made. As a result of that action, today there are civil orders of protection for domestic violence victims in all states (Miller, 2009). Although the awareness was brought to public in the 1970s it was not until 1995 when advocating for victims and creating a voice for domestic violence victims made this subject a public issue. In the 1970s, the use of shelters and safe houses in the United States became a vision because there were no social services available for victims. Victim advocates in the United States began so set up shelters after following the lead of a women named Erin Pizzey of the United Kingdom who went on a personal mission to end violence against women (Miller, 2009). What society today understands about shelters designed to protect victims is this, the victim should go to the shelter and stay and then they will be safe. In general that is the extent of the knowledge society has regarding shelters. Shelters provide immediate relief for safety; they provide counseling services and support groups that offer an opportunity to listen to other victims talk about their situations (Miller,

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

11

2009). It is important for victims to have an opportunity to talk with other victims because when one is a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence, and they speak to someone else, especially at a shelter, who is a victim of violence as well, there is a sense of comfort to know that You are not the only person who has ever had to go through what they are going through, which can ultimately help the healing process begin. There is comfort in knowing that one is not alone and someone understands what they are saying. So the question from society, provided they understand what a victim is going through, the question should be Why arent more victims utilizing shelters? This question was also addressed within the study Elizabeth Smith conducted. This is an answer that society has a hard time swallowing but the reality is, according to the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) in 2008, a contributing factor to why shelters were not being utilized to help victims is that the victims simply did not want help. That is not to say they want to be abused either. 72% of the victims interviewed reported that they did not want help. As a member of society that seems like a high number and the answer in itself is hard to accept, but the idea of what help is and the mindset of the victim must also be taken into consideration. Of that 72% of victims fifty two percent thought that the abuse would stop, which is why they did not want help. Also of that 72%, thirty percent thought they would suffer further harm if the abuser found out they asked for help (Smith, E). Further, there is the issue of self-blame. While victims need to accept their responsibility for becoming a victim, regardless of the reason they stay in this situation, self-blame is usually the contributing factor in that most victims believe if they had not angered their abuser, if they had tried harder, if they just do a better job as a wife, then eventually abuse will stop. Self-blame is difficult because when a victim blames themselves for the violence they are receiving, they are

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE convincing themselves it is their fault and taking all accountability away from the batterer or abuser (Smith, E 2010). Another area of consideration as to why a victim does not just leave is family

12

consideration. Regardless of what abuse a mother/victim is receiving, home is a secure place for children regardless of the safety factor of a victim (Smith, E. 2010). It is difficult to understand until one is in a victims shoes, but when a victim does get the strength and courage to leave the violent and abusive situation they are in and children are involved, it is also difficult to explain to a child why they will not see their friends again, or why there is no money to put them into baseball, football or dance. Factors such as this are what prevent victims from leaving an abusive home, or they are the reason that when a victim does get out, that they end up returning, so that the security of a child can be restored without regard to their own security. If there is going to be a solution to this growing problem, society as a whole needs to begin at the root of the problem. In the root of the problem is where it must be acknowledged that domestic violence is in fact is a problem, reaching levels of epidemic proportions. As the root forms and develops, the problem continues to grow. Acceptance of this problem is the water and nutrition that feed it. As batters, both male and female, continue to elude accountability for their actions, the problem grows larger and reaches a point where it appears to be out of control leaving a solution to the problem unobtainable.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

13

References

Aizer, A. (2011). Poverty, violence, and health. Journal of Human Resources, 46(3), 518-538. http://rx9vh3hy4r.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.882004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com

Feldman, R. Development Across the Life Span. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print. (pp. 524-526)

Helfand, L. (2012). Determination, Optimism help Clearwater 20-year-old recover from brutal stabbing. Retrieved on March 8, 2013 from http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/determination-optimisim-helpclearwater-20-year-oldrecover-from-brutal/1229813

Hester, M. (2010). Commentary on "mothers, domestic violence, and child protection," by Heather Douglas and Tamara Walsh. Violence Against Women, 16(5), 516. http://search.proquest.com/docview/221464092?accountid=12085

Hetling, Andrea, and Haiyan Zhang. "Domestic Violence, Poverty, and Social Services: Does Location Matter?" Social Science Quarterly 91 (2010). Print

Horwitz, S. H., Mitchell, D., Larussa-trott, M., Santiago, L., Pearson, J., Skiff, D. M., & Cerulli, C. (2011). An inside view of police officers' experience with domestic violence. Journal of Family Violence, 26(8), 617-625. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10896-011-9396-y

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

14

Martin, M., (2011) Introduction to Human Services, Through the Eyes of Practice Settings (pp. 291-298)

Miller, B.J., C. Roe-Sepowitz, D. (2009) Shelter Service Utilization of Domestic Violence Victims, Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, doi: 10.1080/10911350902787429

Popescu, M., Drumm, R., Smita D., Corneliu, R. (2010). Childhood Victimization and its Impact on Coping Behaviors for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Family Violence, 575-585. doi: 10.1007/s10896-010-9317-5

Smith, Elizabeth. (2008). Domestic Violence in Pregnancy. International Journal of Childbirth Education 23. pp. 22-25. Retrieved from http://www.library.edu:2048/search.proquest.com/docview/212811257

Stanley, N., Miller, P., & Richardson Foster, H. (2012). Engaging with children's and parents' perspectives on domestic violence. Child & Family Social Work, 17(2), 192-201. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2012.00832.x

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

15

Tolan, P., Smith-Gorman, D. and Henry, D.,(2006). Family Violence: Institute for Juvenile research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.57.102904.190110