Domestic Violence Sociology Research

Student’s Names: Nadine Abdallah ID: 71330150 Ali Farhat 71330099

Course: Introduction to Sociology Code: SSCI200

Instructor’s Name: Jamal Quadoura Spring: 2013-2014

Topic: Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Definition Domestic Violence isn't just hitting, or fighting, or an occasional mean argument. It's a chronic abuse of power. The abuser tortures and controls the victim by calculated threats, intimidation, and physical violence. Actual physical violence is often the end result of months or years of intimidation and control. It is any incident of threatening behavior, violence or abuse between adults who or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. It can be:
Psychological,
Physical,
Sexual,
Financial,
Emotional.

What is Emotional Abuse?
Emotional abuse is when an intimate partner has... continually criticized you, called you names or shouted at you insulted or driven away your friends or family humiliated you in private or public kept you from working, controlled your money or made all the decisions refused to work or to share money taken car keys or money from you regularly threatened to leave or told you to leave threatened to kidnap the children when the abuser was angry with you abused pets to hurt you manipulated you with lies and contradictions
What is Physical Abuse?
Physical abuse is when an intimate partner has... pushed or shoved you held you to keep you from leaving slapped or bitten you kicked or choked you hit or punched you thrown objects at you locked you out of the house abandoned you in dangerous places refused to help you when you were sick, injured or pregnant forced you off the road or driven recklessly threatened to hurt you with a weapon
What is Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse is when an intimate partner has... minimized the importance of your feelings about sex criticized you sexually insisted on unwanted or uncomfortable touching withheld sex and affection forced sex after physical abuse or when you were sick raped you been jealously angry, assuming you would have sex with anyone insisted that you dress in a more sexual way than you wanted
Statistics
Domestic violence is an act committed behind closed doors. 85% of women are abused by domestic violence. One in four women has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents and rapes combined. Women are abused at least twice a week.

Causes of Domestic Violence
Use violence and emotional abuse to control their families.
Believe that they have the right to behave in whatever way they choose while in their own home.
Think that a ‘real’ man should be tough, powerful and the head of the household. They may believe that they should make most of the decisions, including about how money is spent.
Believe that men are entitled to sex from their partners.
Don’t take responsibility for their behavior and prefer to think that loved ones or circumstances provoked their behavior.
Make excuses for their violence: for example, they will blame alcohol or stress.
Report ‘losing control’ when angry around their families, but can control their anger around other people. They don’t tend to use violence in other situations: for example, around friends, bosses, work colleagues or the police.
Try to minimize, blame others for, justify or deny their use of violence, or the impact of their violence towards women and children.

Why Stay?
Weakness,
Crazy in love,
Afraid,
Finances,
Able to bear the pain,
Blame herself,
Afraid of being murdered,
He’s sorry

Effects of Domestic Violence
Long-term effects of domestic violence on women who have been abused may include: anxiety chronic depression chronic pain death dehydration dissociative states drug and alcohol dependence eating disorders emotional "over-reactions" to stimuli general emotional numbing health problems malnutrition panic attacks poor adherence to medical recommendations poverty repeated self-injury self neglect sexual dysfunction sleep disorders somatization disorders strained family relationships suicide attempts an inability to adequately respond to the needs of their children.

The Way Out
Tell everyone,
Involve family,
Join group supports if planning to save marriage,
Make a plan to start a new life.

Children

Up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually. Men who as children witnessed their parents’ domestic violence were twice more likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents. Children who witness domestic violence in the home often believe that they are to blame, live in a constant state of fear and are 15 times more likely to be victims of child abuse.
Effects on Children
Behavioral, social and emotional problems - Higher levels of anger, aggression, hostility and disobedience; fear, anxiety and depression; poor peer, sibling and social relationships.
Cognitive and Attitudinal problems - Lower cognitive functioning, poor school performance, lack of conflict resolution skills, pro-violence attitude and rigid gender stereotypes.
Long-term problems - Higher levels of adult depression and trauma symptoms and increased tolerance for and use of violence in adult relationships.

Ways to Help
Arrange school age children to receive counseling from professionals at their school, often school counselors.
Experiment with various types of counseling: play therapy, peer support groups, anger management classes and safety programs to teach kids how to extract themselves from dangerous situations.
Help children find a loving and supportive adult to introduce to the child and encourage the child to spend as much time regularly with the adult. This may include a trusted family member or community advocate. Family Violence Defense Fund reports that the single most important ingredient to help children heal and develop resiliency is the presence of a loving adult.
Provide a safe environment that does not include violence in any form after a child has witnessed domestic violence.
Find ways to discipline that do not involve hitting, name-calling, yelling, or any form of verbally aggressive behavior.
Help children create a sense of safety by having scheduled routines, such as regular meals and homework times.

Domestic Violence is an endless cycle. It has to stop or at least reduce. Don’t hide if you see someone getting abused. Contact someone immediately whether it’s the police or a family member.

PLEASE STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!