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Chapter 38

Terms in this set (60)

Forms of Violence
Gang behavior

Drug-related violence

Nonfamily rape and sexual assault


Family violence:
Rape and sexual assault also can be forms of family violence

Children, intimate partners, and elderly particularly at risk for abuse
Dimensions of Family Violence
Family violence: range of harmful behaviors among family, other household members

Includes physical and emotional abuse of children, child neglect, abuse between adult intimate partners, marital rape, elder abuse
Family violence is core of many family disturbances

Violence may be family secret, often continues through generations
Influence of society
United States has high level of violence compared with other Western nations

Many believe society's willingness to tolerate violence sets stage for family violence

Social norms sometimes used to justify violence
Men who are violent at home
Often see themselves as law-abiding citizens, not as violent criminals

Minimize their behaviors toward survivors, may justify their actions

May claim events were out of control and therefore not their fault

May feel provoked by survivor or believe survivor's accusations are simply untrue

May normalize their abusive behavior, often referring to the abuse as just an argument
Social Factors that promote violence
Historical attitudes toward women, children, elderly
Economic discrimination

Nonresponsiveness of criminal justice system

Belief that women and children are property

Changing norms about family privacy
Characteristics of violent Families
Families are unique but some factors are common to violent families

Multigenerational transmission
Social isolation
Use and abuse of power
Alcohol and drug abuse
implications
Violence and victimization: behaviors learned through childhood experience

Children who witness violence learn aggressive behaviors, come to believe violence is how to solve problems

When frustrated or angry as an adult, person relies on this learned behavior, may respond with violence
Social Isolation
Some types of violence considered abnormal or illegitimate, become family secret

Exposure of family violence can result in both formal and informal sanctions from other family members, neighbors, police, or judicial system

Abuser often purposely keeps family isolated
Social isolation: factor in elder abuse, intimate partner violence, child abuse
Use and Abuse of Power
In almost all forms of family violence, abuser has some form of control over survivor

With sexual abuse of children, abuser is usually a male in authority position victimizing a child in subordinate position

In marriage, abusers may justify use of violence for trivial events, e.g., not having a meal ready, not keeping the house tidy

Controlling behaviors and violence often relate to spouse's need to dominate
Physical abuse
Inflicting or attempting physical injury:
Grabbing, pinching, shoving, slapping, hitting, hair pulling, biting, arm twisting, kicking, hitting, stabbing, shooting

Withholding access to resources necessary to maintain health
-Medication, medical care, wheelchair, food or fluids, sleep, hygienic assistance

Forcing alcohol or other drug use
Sexual abuse
Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact without consent:
Marital rape, acquaintance rape, forced sex after physical beating, attacks on sexual parts of body, bestiality, forced prostitution, unprotected sex, fondling, sodomy, sex with others, pornography

Attempting to undermine survivor's sexuality
Emotional abuse
Undermining a person's sense of self-worth or self-esteem

Constant criticism of them

Diminishing or belittling their abilities

Damaging their relationships with others
economic abuse
Making survivor financially dependent

Maintaining total control over financial resources

Withholding financial information

Withholding money or access to money

Forbidding attendance at school, forbidding employment, on-the-job harassment

Running up bills for which survivor is responsible
psychological abuse
Instilling or attempting to instill fear:
-Intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, survivor, or others or to harm or kidnap children; harassment; destruction; mind games

Isolating survivor from friends, family, school, work:
-Withholding access to phone or transportation; undermining personal relationships; harassing;
checking up; unfounded accusations; forced imprisonment
Alcohol and drug abuse
Survivors of violence often report substance abuse by the abuser

Abuser may use alcohol as socially acceptable explanation for behavior

Family/friends attribute conduct to effects of alcohol; may decrease degree of blame

Use of alcohol/drugs may increase violent behavior by reducing fear or inhibitions
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