Domestic Abuse
Relationship Violence By Donna Yancey
Dating Violence Facts
According to the, Do Something.org,
- Within the last year, it is estimated in the United States alone, that "1.5 million" high school students of both genders "admit" to have been "hit or physically harmed" by one "they are romantically involved with."
- Long term consequences and effects such as suicidal thoughts, "alcoholism, eating disorders, promiscuity, (...) and violent behavior" are known to occur in teens who became victim to dating abuse.
- Out of every 3 youths, one usually ends up in a relationship that is either "abusive or unhealthy".
- America's teens are victim to some form of dating abuse, whether "sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional"
- A quarter of U.S. High School girls were either "physically or sexually" abused, and are "6 times more likely"to develop and STD, STI, or transition into pregnancy.
- Half of the youth victims abused physically, sexually, or raped will have suicidal attempts.
- Throughout the start of middle school and end of high school "violent behavior often begins". The amount of 13 and 14 year olds "dating" is a little less then 3/4, or "72%".
- Only eight US States don't "consider" domestic violence relevant a violent relationships in dating, which prevents victims from requesting a restraining order for their abuser.
- Sixteen to Twenty-four year old females, compared to the rest of the population, are "roughly 3 times more likely" suffer abuse from an "intimate partner."
- The number of teens part of an abusive relationship that trusted in telling another "about the violence" was 33%, or "only 1/3".
- Abused teens are afraid and "hesitate to seek help" in order to avoid exposure "or are unaware of the laws surrounding domestic violence."
"11 Facts About Teen Dating Violence." DoSomething.org. Do Something .org, n.d. Web. 19 May 2016. <https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-teen-dating-violence>.
Warning Signs
- Checking social media, communication networks, and cell phones of the other without their authorization or permission first.
- If one is extremely jealous or insecure, whether it is because of who one hangs out with or how much free time they spend together.
- Repetitively using harsh or descriptive words to describe the other, or "belittling or put-downs"
- Raging, vengeful, uncontrollable temper, outbursts, "explosive".
- Keeping the other away from their own friends or family, hogging- possessive
- Falsely accusing others, Jumping to continuous conclusions, showing dominance, authority, and believing to be right, not willing to change.
- "Erratic mood swings"
- Hurting others, especially the one they are dating physically, or "inflicting pain or hurt in any way"
- "Possessiveness"
- Ordering the other, proving dominance or authority, trying to control the other, ordering directions.
- Constantly pressuring another "to have sex"
Causes
Domestic Violence can occur for several reasons. Some include:
- It is viewed as a problem solving tactic that worked in the past.
- The abuser may have grown up a spectator witnessing domestic abuse in their everyday life in the household. This could have lead them to believe it to be an appropriate response to use violence, whether physical or emotional, as a method to "vent anger and cope with their internal fears and self-perception issues."
- Using abuse, they gained almost maximum control over others and continue to "establish" their dominance.
- Nobody prevented the abuse, prohibited the abuser to continue or notified a report to the authorities.
- Intimate partner disagreements.
- Unemployment--either for long or short periods--especially if they are constant and long.
- Issues in finances.
- Impulse
- Scared or "desperation when partner threatens to leave".
- Lack of emotional control. Anger gets out of hand and burns brighter.
- "Humiliation" of problems roots at work or "other perceived failures."
- "Jealousy and envy", especially of others, including family and friends, or just because of the amount of time the partners spend together.
- Beliefs, dominance, history, alcohol, control impulses
Gluck, Samantha. "Causes of Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse - HealthyPlace." HealthyPlace. HealthyPlace America Mental Health Channel, n.d. Web. <http://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/domestic-violence/causes-of-domestic-violence-domestic-abuse/>.
Treatment
- Therapy
- Consulting in others.
- Working to overcome fears
- Become confident and strong enough to stand up to others.
- Discuss in sessions with abuser, work to overcome abuse.
- Abuser must overcome past abusive experiences and impulses that cause them to problem solve using abusive methods.
Prevention
Some Preventtion methods include:
- "Providing economic opportunity"
- Finding mentors or domestic violence survivors to role model good prevention.
- Attend or organize youth or frailty programs within the community, including schools that promote healthy relationships and domestic violence or relationship abuse prevention.
- Provide a nurturing environment, with "consistent, structured supervision" from adult family members to prevent domestic violence and abuse.
- Raise awareness in society broadly over domestic abuse and relationship violence, such as October's "Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This helps educate and raise awareness on this issue to try and be solved.
- Donate "money or time to a domestic violence organization."
- Learn more about the issue
- Educate and teach students about abusive versus healthy relationships.
- Listen to domestic violence victims experience "in a nonjudgmental way". Don't be prejudice.
"Domestic Violence Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - How Is Intimate Partner Abuse Legally Addressed? - MedicineNet." MedicineNet. Medicinenet.com, n.d. Web. 31 May 2016. <http://www.medicinenet.com/domestic_violence/page7.htm>.