CHAPTER 1 high risk of child abduction by the domestic A “family or household member” means spouse, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE violence batterer. former spouse, persons related by blood or (2 CE HOURS) 25 percent of 235 women studied reported marriage, persons who are presently residing that husbands continued to make threats together as if a family, or have resided together Learning objectives against their lives during child visitations. in the past as if a family, and persons who have ! To utilize the definition of domestic violence 73 percent of battered women seek a child in common regardless of whether they in order to facilitate domestic violence emergency medical care for injuries sustained have been married or have resided together at any identification and intervention. after leaving their batterer. time. ! To facilitate mental health practitioner Approximately 2 million children in the recognition of professional responsibility Domestic violence is not limited to physical United States are seriously abused by their abuse. Other tactics include emotional and with regard to domestic violence. parents, guardians, or others each year and ! psychological abuse. These three tactics are To facilitate understanding and recognition approximately 20 percent of children will of the cycle of violence and the impact of demonstrated through a Power and Control be sexually abused in someway, usually Wheel. For example, it can be demonstrated in domestic violence on children and families. by someone they know – before becoming ! the following ways: To educate the mental health practitioner adults. on why domestic violence victims do not 900,000 parents are beaten or abused by The Duluth Model Wheels immediately leave their abusers. their children each year. The Elder Abuse Emotional and psychological abuse. Domestic violence statistics Incidence study found that approximately The victim can exhibit: Domestic violence is an urgent public health 551,011 elder persons were abused or Anxiety disorders. problem with devastating consequences for neglected in a one-year period. (1996) Mood disorders. women, men, children, youth, and the elderly. One study found that children of abused Suicide and suicidal ideation. mothers were 57 times more likely to have Somatic complaints. Domestic violence has no age, gender, social, been harmed because of intimate partner Substance abuse. ethnic, geographic, education, economic, or race violence between their parents, compared Eating disorders. boundaries. There is no typical victim, yet it with children of non-abused mothers. High risk behaviors. affects the health and well being of all persons Sleep disturbance. Remember. It is not unusual for battered victims involved in the crime; in particular, contributing Threats by the batterer against property, pets to separate and reunite with their batterers six to children in care. As a matter of fact, the and other family members, and can include: to seven times before leaving permanently. They frequency and severity of violence among lower Yelling, shouting, screaming. leave through divorce or through death. income people is equal to the frequency and Blaming. severity in the middle and upper classes. Domestic violence – Definition Threats to cause harm to self or victims. For example, according to the U.S. Department In general domestic violence can be defined Put-downs. of Justice, intimate persons such as husbands, ex- as any assault, aggravated assault, battery, Using children – to relay messages, husbands, boyfriends, or ex-boyfriends – commit aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, induce guilt and to harass victim. 29 percent of all violence against women. stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false Play mind games. imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting Using privilege by: Further, of nearly 18 percent of American women in physical injury or death of one family or Treating victim like a servant. surveyed, 17.7 million, have been raped or been household member by another who is or was Behaving like a “master of the castle.” a victim of attempted rape during their lifetime, residing in the same single dwelling unit. Defining male and female roles. according to a collaborative study on violence jointly funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice. Each year between 2 million and 4 million women are battered, and 2,000 of these battered women will die of their injuries. Domestic violence is the single largest cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than muggings, car accidents and rapes combined. Other statistics include: Medical expenses, alone, from domestic violence range between 3 to 5 million dollars annually, but the total cost, including court, police, shelters, jail, job loss, etc…. is approximately $67,000,000 annually. Nationally, 50 percent of all homeless women and children are on the streets because of violence in the home. (There are nearly three times as many animal shelters in the United States as there are shelters for battered women and their children.) Women are most likely to be murdered when attempting to leave an abusive relationship. In an attempt to punish the mother, there is a Power and Control Wheel (Duluth Model) Elite Page 1 Destruction of belongings. Abusing children, as well as other The cycle of violence Causing economic dependence by controlling vulnerable populations. In general, there are three phases associated with finances and assets. Victims of domestic violence may have a cycle of domestic violence. Power and control Isolating the victim from any and all outside experienced childhood abuse or other trauma is demonstrated throughout the cycle by batterers support, including family and friends. that has modeled inappropriate parenting for through: them as adults. Hence, their coping skills 1. Physical abuse. Physical domestic violence includes: can be marginal, especially when stressed. 2. Psychological abuse. Shooting, stabbing, pushing, grabbing, Their aptitude for handling work and building 3. Emotional abuse. scratching, shaking slapping, hitting, healthy relationships can be impaired if they In the initial stage, tension develops and choking, kicking, biting, throwing objects. experience a mental health problem due to escalates. During this phase, incidents considered Stalking. their domestic violence situation as well. minor by the victim occur. The victim believes Sexual assault, sexual battery. In addition, if victims are abusing drugs or that the situation is temporary and that she/he will Reproductive control through denying access alcohol their ability to parent their children be able to control it. to contraceptives or forced sterilization. or work with other vulnerable populations is False Imprisonment. diminished. During the second phase, the batterer loses Kidnapping. control. The episode is violent and can be short, Other physical signs can include: Murder. or last a long time. Contusion or injuries in the head, neck, Signs of domestic violence cheek. During the third phase there is a period of It is important to screen clients for domestic Evidence of alcohol or drug use. calm, and often reconciliation. Forgiveness is violence as you acquire a social history. If Injuries during pregnancy. sought, while the victim is hopeful and wishes further investigation is needed, domestic Injuries that suggest a defensive posture. to forget the incident. The calm, reconciliation violence screening instruments are available Injuries that appear inconsistent with victim’s period may not occur at all, but in general, it through your local domestic violence agency. explanation. is called a “Honeymoon” period. This is when When appropriate, ask clients the list of queries Gastrointestinal disorders. attempts at gaining forgiveness and intimacy are generated from the screening instrument. Injuries that indicate sexual assault/rape. demonstrated by the batterer. In general, victims of repeated domestic Knife wounds. As time passes, the cycle begins again and the violence can, over time, experience more serious Broken bones. phases occur closer together, as the incidents consequences than victims of one-time incidents. Headaches. become more serious. Gynecological disorders. Outward physical indicators or signs are often Back pain. Reporting domestic violence present within a domestic violence relationship, Pelvic pain. Battery is a crime! Yet, few states specifically but there are other signs in victims that reflect Heart and circulatory conditions. require reporting of adult-to-adult domestic battering and include: Sexually transmitted diseases. violence. Some states report mandatory arrest Depression and other mental and Central nervous system disorders. of batterers. Few jurisdictions aggressively emotional disorders. Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder pursue cases of domestic violence and prosecute Domestic violence creates oppression and that include: batterers even when victims refuse to press depression in victims because its theme Emotional detachment. charges. However, virtually all jurisdictions revolves around power and control. Because Sleep disturbances. impose civil or criminal penalties for failing some abusers (victimizers) often throw their Hyper-arousal. to report suspected incidents of child abuse or victims off guard following the “honeymoon” Hyper-vigilance. neglect. phase in the cycle of violence, anxiety Flashbacks. disorders