Domestic Violence Research Paper

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN

FA M I LY A N D D O M E S T I C V I O L E N C E
S T U D E N T I N F O R M AT I O N K I T

Department for Community Development
Government of Western Australia
Family and Domestic Violence Unit

CONTENTS
So what is domestic violence? ............................................................................................................3
More than hitting? ..............................................................................................................................3
All couples fight – what’s the difference?.............................................................................................4
Who experiences family and domestic violence?..................................................................................4
Family and domestic violence is different from the usual conflict in relationships in that:
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it is a pattern of behaviours, rather than situational

•

it involves systematic behaviour using violence, economic subordination, threats, isolation and other control tactics

partner to have a job or other interests outside the home, forbidding their partner to go out, wanting to know where their partner is all the

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time.
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Physical abuse – punching, choking, pushing, shoving, kicking, hair

it’s intent is to dominate and control, rather than to get one’s own way or to resolve an issue

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it causes fear – one partner must be actually afraid of the other

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it has serious physical and mental health consequences.

pulling, throwing and smashing objects, injuring pets, damaging property and the threat of all of these.
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Economic abuse – controlling the household income, not allowing money for personal use, not allowing their partner access to bank accounts.

Family and domestic violence also includes other forms of control, such as making decisions for their partner and excessive jealousy.

“In the beginning I thought his jealousy meant he loved me. The jealousy got worse and worse until one day I realised he
Secondly helplessness “I can't live without you and lastly threats (to hurt her, to suicide, to take the children).
HONEYMOON – the couple usually buy back into a mutually dependent, socially isolated relationship. Nothing has been resolved. At this stage things can be good for a while and the couple will often believe that “this time things will be different”.
Eventually the cycle continues and the couple moves back into the build up again.
Adapted from Ian MacDonald December 1986
9

WHY DOESN’T
S H E L E AV E ?

Barriers to women leaving abusive relationships include:
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Community attitudes – that what happens in the home is private, that
“she must have deserved it” or that “if she didn’t like it she could

It is a common and powerfully dominant myth that “if a woman doesn’t like it she can leave”. It can be difficult to understand why people experiencing family and domestic violence remain in the relationship or do not seek help.

leave”.
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Shame and embarrassment.

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Previous experiences of negative responses to disclosing abuse –

Studies consistently show that compared with victims of other forms of violence, victims of family and domestic violence are:

by friends/family, police, doctor, workplace etc.