Causes and Types of Domestic Violence – Essential Guide 2022

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a tragic reality for many victims around the world. In general teams, domestic violence is abuse that occurs in a domestic setting such as in marriage, cohabitation, or between intimate partners. Domestic violence is committed by one person against another with victims including, but certainly not limited to: children, spouses, the elderly, and parents.

The forms and degree of domestic violence can vary greatly. Physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, and financial violence are among the most common types. Overwhelmingly, the victims of domestic violence in the world are women.

The effects of domestic violence can be severe and long-lasting.

What Causes Domestic Violence?

The motivations behind domestic abuse are varied and complex. The overriding drive behind this violent behavior is the dynamic of power and control in a relationship. Violence is seen as a method of dominating the power structure within a relationship, regardless of whether the relationship is romantic, parental, or familial.

Men (who represent the vast majority of perpetrators) who demonstrate domestic violence do share a set of characteristics. They are typically narcissistic, lack empathy, and see their needs as more important than others in their lives. These individuals also work to perpetuate the ideas that the victims bring the violence upon themselves as a result of inadequacy or specific behavior.

Here are some of the causes and conditions associated with domestic violence:

Mental illness: there is a correlation between women who suffer severe physical abuse and women who suffer from some sort of mental illness. These conditions could include substance abuse, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and many other illnesses. While there is a correlation, it is very difficult to ascertain whether women who have these conditions are more likely to be abused or if women who are abused develop these conditions.
Poverty and unemployment: financial troubles can place a tremendous amount of stress on a relationship and those experiencing these troubles are more likely to experience domestic violence. Being unemployed and impoverished means that the abused have fewer options to escape a dangerous situation or obtain legal help.
Education: generally speaking, the more education that women have, the better equipped they are to ward off unwanted and dangerous sexual advances. Studies have shown that women with at least some secondary education have a lower risk of experiencing domestic violence. The theory behind this is that women who have an advanced education are more capable of garnering the resources and tools to escape an abusive situation and secure their independence.
Young parents: Unexpected or young parenting often leads to raising children before the requisite skill set is established. This can lead to stress, aggression, anger, anxiety, frustration, and depression with many of these actions directed at a co-parent or child. Studies also show that many young parents are single which puts them at a higher risk for financial instability and lower education thus complicating already stressful situations.
Relationship Retention Behavior: a prime example of how power dynamics play a role in domestic violence is the thought process that violence and abuse can help save a relationship. This is known as relationship retention behavior. While wildly misguided, the abuser thinks that violence is the only way to retain their partner.
Historical Factors: society has historically been male-dominated and despite efforts toward equality throughout the past century, many of the effects and systems that perpetuated that dominance remains. Chauvinism due to historical power struggles is certainly a contributing factor in domestic violence in current times.
Self-defence: in many instances, domestic violence can be a response to abuse by the other partner or in an effort to avoid violence preemptively. Violence is sometimes seen as a response to excessive control by another partner in a relationship.
Alcoholism: Excessive alcohol and drug use are strongly correlated with domestic violence. Alcoholism becomes a controlling factor of its own, develops patterns, and can seed the constant need to exert control over a partner.
Suspicion of infidelity: When trust becomes suspect between two partners, violence may be viewed by one party as the solution to the problem. While violence is certainly not the solution to this relationship struggle, suspicion of infidelity is a common cause of violence in domestic situations.

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What are the types of domestic violence?

Domestic violence and abuse can take many forms. Most commonly, society associates abuse with physical violence such as battering, hitting, and sexual assault. While these are certainly common, there is a host of other types of abuse that someone can fall victim to.

Some common types of domestic abuse include:

Control: maintaining dominance over a partner is a way that an abuser seeks to control their partner. Control is the primary dynamic in domestic violence. Examples of control are monitoring phone calls, forcing a victim to dress in a particular manner they do not want, fostering a dependence mentality by making the victim think they are incapable of independence, invading privacy, or following the use of the victim’s car.
Physical abuse: The various types of physical abuse are wide and varied. They include hitting, choking, beating, kicking walls and doors, holding a victim hostage, threatening to injure children or pets, forcible restraint, blocking exits, or threatening with a weapon.
Sexual abuse: Actions that force sex or exploit sex qualify as sexual abuse. Examples include using physical force, making a victim have sex with others, exploiting a victim who is unable to make an informed and consenting decision (i.e. the victim is asleep, disabled, too young, drugged, or intoxicated), making fun of a victim’s body, withholding sex as a measure of control, or excessive jealousy that results in attempts to limit the victim’s contact with the world outside the relationship.
Emotional abuse and intimidation: Seeking to undermine someone’s self-worth, make them insecure, or attack a vulnerability are all forms of emotional abuse and intimidation. Methods of this abuse include insulting or criticizing, public humiliation, using reality distorting statements, consistently ignoring the victim’s needs, forcing the victim to take drugs or alcohol, or not allowing the victim to practice their preferred religious beliefs.
Isolation: Keeping a victim from those they want to see, i.e., family, friends, work associates, and therapists, is a form of domestic abuse. This behavior of isolating a victim from the world around them is intended to keep them from being influenced by anyone who may reinforce the victim’s feelings of leaving the situation.
Verbal abuse (coercion, threats, and blame): Verbally abuse is very common and can include name-calling, threats, blaming the victim, telling the victim they are undesirable, screaming, yelling, or even refusing to talk.
Using male privilege: A huge contributing factor in the cycle of abuse is a simple fact that men have been able to abuse women. As abusers seek to control their victims’ lives, the cycle of abuse is reinforced and further perpetuated. Four factors that play into male privilege perpetuating the cycle of abuse are the objectification of women, a male entitlement toward control, the perceived acceptable use of force, and the societal support for dominant and controlling behavior.
Economic abuse: Controlling access to money is a form of abuse. This can also include spending money needed for essentials on non-essentials, hiding money in secret accounts, placing the victim on an allowance, causing the victim to lose a job or preventing them from taking a job.

What is the difference between domestic violence and abuse?

The terms “domestic abuse” and “domestic violence” are often used interchangeably in our society to define very similar types of behavior. The news will often use these terms to mean the same thing. In fact, the primary difference often comes down to simply that state that one lives in and how their respective legislatures have defined this conduct in state law.

What are the effects of domestic violence on mental health?

Acts of domestic violence can have dramatic effects on the mental health of its victims. Often, the most overt scars of domestic violence are physical and financial however the impact on mental well-being can be long-lasting and often may go unnoticed for quite some time.

Some of the most common mental health complications that result from domestic violence include:

Anxiety: this mental health condition can manifest in the form of sudden and intense panic attacks or as more generalized anxiety. Either can interfere with daily life and can become worse over time if left untreated.
Depression: Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and low self-esteem can also take over a victim’s life and make day-to-day activities seem almost impossible.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Victims who suffer from PTSD find themselves on edge, have trouble sleeping, have negative thoughts about others, or are easily startled.

Victims of domestic violence are susceptible to mental health complications and should seek out help from medical professionals to learn how to manage and understand what has led to their circumstances. If these conditions go untreated, victims are often at risk of self-destructive behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse.

How to prevent domestic violence

Individuals, families, and society all benefit when efforts are made to prevent domestic violence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outline strategies and approaches for getting to the core issues behind domestic violence and working to root them out.

Teaching and cultivating healthy relationship skills through social-emotional learning programs for youth and healthy relationship programs for adults.
Involving influential adults and peers to teach in family programs and education.
- Disrupting developmental pathways toward domestic violence through early childhood home visitation, parenting skill programs, and treatment for at-risk children.
- Create protective environments by improving school climates, workplace climates, and social environments.
- Strengthen economic support for families through employment programs and financial security programs
- Support survivors to increase safety and lessen harm by establishing victim support services, housing programs, and first responder and civil legal protections.

Many of these strategies are intended to work with at-risk populations to change and support their home, school, and community environments to foster healthy and protective family skill sets.

The key factors in a community that contribute to the prevention of domestic violence are:

Coordination of resources and services amongst local agencies
Access to economic and financial help
Access to medical care and mental health assistance
Access to safe and stable housing
A feeling of connectedness amongst community members.

Ultimately, promoting healthy, non-violent relationships is the key to reducing instances of domestic violence.

Programs that help domestic violence victims

There are a number of organizations that have dedicated resources to help both adult and underage victims of domestic violence. Here are just a handful of those organizations whose mission is to prevent abuse and support victims:

States and local communities often have myriad organizations that are available for in-person and on-the-ground help for victims. These organizations are staffed by social workers and mental health professionals that are able to guide victims to the best available resources. The work that these professionals do on a daily basis to ease the burden of domestic violence victims is noteworthy.

Case management services helping with domestic violence

Case managers who work with domestic violence victims work to prepare these individuals for a full-filling life independent of their abuser. Case managers help victims with:

Emergency help for relocation after leaving an abuser
Food and clothing for the victim and dependents
Utilities and basic services
Financial help for medical and housing expenses

Many times, case managers are a lifeline for those who have nowhere else to turn. These social work professionals are instrumental in helping domestic violence victims establish independence from their abusers, regain firm footing in their life, and give hope for a brighter future.

Conclusion

Domestic violence is a plague in our society. The seen and unseen scars that victims endure are sometimes with them for the rest of their lives. The good news is that there is a slew of organizations at both the community and national levels that are dedicated to eliminating domestic violence and helping victims recover. Approaching the problem from both angles is the only way to rid society of this behavior once and for all.