domestic violence cause effect essay

Domestic Violence: Causes and Effects

Causes: violence and its origins, effects: changes in a community, works cited.

The phenomenon of domestic violence is upsettingly common in the present-day setting. Although it varies depending on the area and its unique characteristics, such as individual anger issues, education levels, social prejudices, etc., domestic violence can occur anywhere (Pearlman et al. 49). The persistent nature of the phenomenon alters communities where its occurrences are most frequent.

Domestic violence affects both adults and children, traumatizing the latter and disrupting relationships between the former. Furthermore, domestic violence disrupts the very core of a family unit, thus, tearing the fabric of a community apart (Cunradi et al. 86). Therefore, domestic violence must be viewed as the factor altering a community drastically and leading to its ultimate deterioration and destruction.

Violence, in general, and domestic violence, in particular, is a huge cause of the decomposition of society. The quiet and secret nature of domestic violence suggests that it affects people on a very personal level and is rarely discussed openly (Pearlman et al. 47). Thus, as a cause of a rapid drop in the quality of social relationships, domestic violence is very difficult to identify and remove from the context of a particular community.

The exposure to the specified factor leaves a lasting impact on adults and children alike, preventing both from developing positive relationships in the future. Furthermore, considering violence as a cause of a drop in the quality of social interactions, one must mention the stigma that prevents victims from revealing the challenges and suffering with which they have to deal regularly (Cunradi et al. 81). Therefore, domestic violence as a cause has a lasting impact and is very difficult to detect and address appropriately.

Due to its perceived invisibility, domestic violence affects a community drastically. Among the key outcomes, one must mention the inability of its victims to address the situation. Furthermore, it may create a sense of detachment among community members and alienate them from each other (Cunradi et al. 84). Similarly, the problem has a massive impact on the children that live in abusive households. Afterward, they are likely to transfer the specified framework to the context of their own families, according to a recent study (Pearlman et al. 51). Thus, communities with abusive families live in a vicious circle that is very hard to break.

Although domestic violence is restricted to the setting of a particular family, it affects a community and its members directly since it encourages silencing violence among community members and promotes a wrong idea of relationships to children. Therefore, domestic violence affects a community in the most drastic and deplorable way possible. Unless addressed properly, domestic violence disrupts regular patterns of communication and provides children with behavior models that will ultimately ruin their relationships and suggest the role of either an abuser or a victim. Thus, it is essential to focus on reducing the levels of domestic violence, as well as offering psychological and social help to victims and their children.

Cunradi, Carol B., et al. “Discrepant Patterns of Heavy Drinking, Marijuana Use, and Smoking and Intimate Partner Violence: Results from the California Community Health Study of Couples.” Journal of Drug Education, vol. 45, no. 2, 2015, pp. 73-95. Web.

Pearlman, Deborah N., et al. “Neighborhood Environment, Racial Position, and Risk of Police-Reported Domestic Violence: A Contextual Analysis.” Public Health Reports, vol. 118, no. 1 2016, pp. 44-58. Web.

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Domestic Abuse: Types, Causes, and Impact

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Yolanda Renteria, LPC, is a licensed therapist, somatic practitioner, national certified counselor, adjunct faculty professor, speaker specializing in the treatment of trauma and intergenerational trauma.

Boy_Anupong / Getty Images

• Supporting Someone

Domestic abuse , also known as domestic violence or family abuse, is a pattern of behavior that is used to hurt, terrorize, manipulate, or gain control over a family member.

Domestic abuse may be perpetrated by any member of the household, such as an intimate partner, parent, child, sibling, relative, or staff member. When domestic abuse is perpetrated by an intimate partner, it is referred to as intimate partner violence. When a child is a victim of domestic abuse, it is referred to as child abuse .

People from marginalized groups are at greater risk of experiencing abuse. However, it’s important to recognize that anyone can be a victim of abuse, regardless of their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, class, or faith.

Domestic abuse and intimate partner violence are serious public health issues globally. In fact, it is believed that domestic abuse is the most prevalent but least reported crime in the United States.

This article explores the types, causes, signs, and impact of domestic abuse, as well as some ways to support someone who has been abused.

If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates. 

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 . For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database .

Types of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can take many forms. These are some of the different types of domestic abuse:

• Physical abuse , which is when someone harms the other person’s body, causing them to experience pain or suffer physical injuries. Physical abuse includes slapping, beating, hitting, kicking, punching, pinching, biting, choking, pushing, grabbing, shaking, or burning another person.
• Sexual abuse , which includes any form of touching or sexual contact without the other person’s explicit consent. Sexual abuse also includes any form of sexual contact between an adult and a person below the age of 18 .
• Emotional or psychological abuse , which includes yelling, cursing, name-calling, bullying, coercing, humiliating, gaslighting, harassing, infantilizing , threatening, frightening, isolating, manipulating, or otherwise controlling another person. Emotional/psychological abuse can be just as harmful as sexual or physical abuse.
• Neglect , which involves failing to provide a child or a dependent adult with necessities such as food, water, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision. Neglect can also be emotional, which involves failing to provide love, care, and emotional support to a family member.
• Financial abuse , which involves taking control of an individual's finances by controlling their income, restricting their ability to work, or accumulating debts in their name.
• Cultural identity abuse , which involves using aspects of a person's cultural identity to cause pain. This might involve threatening to out a person as LGBTQ+, using racial or ethnic slurs, or not permitting the person to practice traditions and customs of their faith.
• Technological abuse , which involves using technology as a means to threaten, stalk, harass, and abuse the other person. Examples of this form of abuse include using tracking devices to monitor someone's movements or online activities and demanding to have access to the person's social media or email accounts.
• Immigration abuse , which involves inflicting harm on a person by using their immigration status to threaten or restrict aspects of their life. Examples of this might involve threatening the individual's family members, destroying or hiding their immigration papers, and threatening to have them deported.

Signs of Domestic Abuse

It’s important to recognize domestic abuse because the victims are our friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors.

These are some of the signs that someone is experiencing domestic abuse:

• Being upset or agitated
• Being withdrawn or unresponsive
• Exhibiting signs of fear or nervousness around certain people
• Displaying sudden changes in behavior or unusual behaviors
• Having injuries such as cuts, bruises, black eyes, or broken bones
• Having bruises, bleeding, torn clothes, or bloodstains around genital areas
• Being dehydrated, malnourished, or unkempt
• Living in unsafe or unsanitary conditions
• Wearing long-sleeved clothing or sunglasses to cover up bruising
• Having unusual eating or sleeping habits
• Being extremely meek and apologetic
• Losing interest in daily activities
• Isolating from friends and family

Causes of Domestic Abuse

Research suggests that there are a number of different factors that contribute to the prevalence of domestic violence:

• Cultural factors: Historically, many patriarchal cultures have permitted the beating and chastising of women and children, who are viewed as a man’s property. Additionally, the concept of a woman’s sexuality is often tied to the family’s honor. Therefore, any actions or behaviors by a woman that are perceived as acts of dishonor toward the family are met with judgment and abuse.
• Legal factors: Law enforcement agencies tend to treat domestic abuse as a private family matter and sometimes hesitate to intervene or get involved. Acts of domestic abuse are often treated with more leniency than crimes committed by strangers. In fact, sexual abuse by intimate partners is not even recognized as a crime in many cultures.
• Economic factors: Lack of economic resources is often associated with domestic abuse.
• Environmental factors: People who have grown up in abusive environments and witnessed or experienced abuse as children may be more likely to perpetrate domestic abuse as adults. This is referred to as the intergenerational cycle of abuse .
• Social factors: Society still tends to blame victims for being abused, which can make it difficult for them to come forward and report their abusers. Victims are often scrutinized minutely, and any imperfections are held against them.
• Substance use: Excessive use of substances such as alcohol and drugs can lead to domestic abuse.

Impact of Domestic Abuse

Being abused can cause a person to:

• Think they did something to deserve the abuse
• Believe they are unwanted and unworthy of love or respect
• Feel guilty or ashamed
• Feel helpless and powerless
• Feel used , controlled, or manipulated
• Be terrified of doing something that will upset their abuser
• Behave differently in order to avoid upsetting their abuser
• Have difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or participating in activities they once enjoyed
• Develop mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety
• Develop physical health conditions such as heart disease, digestive issues, muscle and bone conditions, fertility problems, and nervous system disorders
• Feel responsible for regulating the emotions and behaviors of their abuser
• Feel hypervigilant and like they are constantly walking on eggshells
• Not feel good enough or capable to make it on their own
• Constantly doubt their perception and their decisions

Experiencing domestic abuse can cause physical and mental health issues that persist long after the abuse stops.

Supporting Someone Who Has Been Abused

These are some ways to support someone who has been abused:

• Listen to the person and believe them
• Honor where they are in their process and don't push your personal views
• Offer assistance and let them know they’re not alone
• Help them note down all the details they can remember
• Remind them that they’re not to blame for anything that has happened to them
• Encourage them to seek professional support, either through a confidential hotline or via other medical or mental healthcare providers
• Encourage them to speak up about the abuse and report their abuser to the authorities, because keeping it secret only protects their abuser
• Respect whatever choice they make and let them know you'll be there for them regardless of what they decide

A Word From Verywell

Domestic abuse can take many different shapes and forms. It can be extremely traumatic to experience, leaving behind physical wounds, emotional scars, and health issues. It can affect every aspect of the person’s life and make it difficult for them to function.

Recovery takes time, but speaking up about the abuse, leaving an abusive situation , and seeking treatment are important steps that can help.

United Nations. What is domestic abuse?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing intimate partner violence .

Li S, Zhao F, Yu G. Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis . Child Abuse Negl . 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012

City Government of Annapolis, Maryland. Myths about domestic violence .

Nemours Foundation. Abuse .

Women Against Abuse. Types of abuse .

Department of Human Services. Domestic violence crisis and prevention .

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Types and signs of abuse .

Yakubovich AR, Stöckl H, Murray J, Melendez-Torres GJ, Steinert JI, Glavin CEY, Humphreys DK. Risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence against women: Systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective-longitudinal studies . Am J Public Health . 2018;108(7):e1-e11. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304428

Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD. Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence . Clin Psychol Rev . 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Emotional and verbal abuse .

Malik M, Munir N, Ghani MU, Ahmad N. Domestic violence and its relationship with depression, anxiety, and quality of life . Pak J Med Sci . 2021;37(1):191-194. doi:10.12669/pjms.37.1.2893

Cleveland Clinic. How to heal from emotional abuse .

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Essay On Domestic Violence

500 words essay on domestic violence.

Domestic violence refers to the violence and abuse which happens in a domestic setting like cohabitation or marriage. It is important to remember that domestic violence is not just physical but any kind of behaviour that tries to gain power and control over the victim. It can affect people from all walks of life and it basically subjects towards a partner, spouse or intimate family member. Through an essay on domestic violence, we will go through its causes and effects.

Causes of Domestic Violence

Often women and children are the soft targets of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a gruesome crime that also causes a number of deaths. Some of the most common causes of domestic violence are illiteracy and economical dependency on the menfolk.

The male-dominated society plays an important role in this problem. Further, dowry is also one of the leading causes which have the consequence of violence against newly-wed brides. In many parts of the world, physically assaulting women and passing horrendous remarks is common.

Moreover, children also become victims of this inhuman behaviour more than often. It is important to recognize the double standards and hypocrisy of society. A lot of the times, the abuser is either psychotic or requires psychological counselling.

However, in a more general term, domestic violence is the outcome of cumulative irresponsible behaviour which a section of society demonstrates. It is also important to note that solely the abuser is not just responsible but also those who allow this to happen and act as mere mute spectators.

Types of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence has many ill-effects which depend on the kind of domestic violence happening. It ranges from being physical to emotional and sexual to economic. A physical abuser uses physical force which injures the victim or endangers their life.

It includes hitting, punching, choking, slapping, and other kinds of violence. Moreover, the abuser also denies the victim medical care. Further, there is emotional abuse in which the person threatens and intimidates the victim. It also includes undermining their self-worth.

It includes threatening them with harm or public humiliation. Similarly, constant name-calling and criticism also count as emotional abuse. After that, we have sexual abuse in which the perpetrator uses force for unwanted sexual activity.

If your partner does not consent to it, it is forced which makes it sexual abuse. Finally, we have economic abuse where the abuser controls the victim’s money and their economic resources.

They do this to exert control on them and make them dependent solely on them. If your partner has to beg you for money, then it counts as economic abuse. This damages the self-esteem of the victim.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Domestic Violence

To conclude, domestic violence has many forms which include physical aggression like kicking and biting and it can also be sexual or emotional. It is essential to recognize the signs of domestic violence and report the abuser if it is happening around you or to you.

FAQ of Essay on Domestic Violence

Question 1: Why is domestic violence an issue?

Answer 1: Domestic violence has a major impact on the general health and wellbeing of individuals. It is because it causes physical injury, anxiety, depression. Moreover, it also impairs social skills and increases the likelihood that they will participate in practices harmful to their health, like self-harm or substance abuse.

Question 2: How does domestic violence affect a woman?

Answer 2: Domestic violence affects women in terms of ill health. It causes serious consequences on their mental and physical health which includes reproductive and sexual health. It also includes injuries, gynaecological problems, depression, suicide and more.

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Cause and Effect of Domestic Violence: Unveiling the Impact on Individuals and Society

Table of contents, causes of domestic violence, effects on physical and psychological well-being, societal implications, prevention and intervention, conclusion: breaking the cycle of violence.

• Johnson, M. P. (2008). A typology of domestic violence: Intimate terrorism, violent resistance, and situational couple violence. Northeastern University Press.
• World Health Organization. (2013). Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. WHO Press.
• García-Moreno, C., Hegarty, K., d'Oliveira, A. F., Koziol-MacLain, J., Colombini, M., & Feder, G. (2015). The health-systems response to violence against women. The Lancet, 385(9977), 1567-1579.
• Stark, E. (2007). Coercive control: How men entrap women in personal life. Oxford University Press.
• Campbell, J. C. (2002). Health consequences of intimate partner violence. The Lancet, 359(9314), 1331-1336.

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Domestic Violence — Understanding and Addressing Domestic Violence

Understanding and Addressing Domestic Violence

• Categories: Domestic Violence

About this sample

Words: 586 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 586 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Definition of domestic violence, causes of domestic violence, effects of domestic violence, prevention and intervention.

• https://ncadv.org/statistics

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Effect of Domestic Violence on Children Report

Introduction, forms of child abuse, media-child violence, cases reported by the media, observations.

Family violence is a term that can be used to describe the various forms of violence that happen with a family set up. A family is a sociological unit which includes parents and children. The most common types of violence within the family are wife abuse and child abuse. Violence in this sense may include slaps, pushes, sexual abuse, battering, and use of abusive words (Gelles & Lancaster, 1987).

Children in single parent families are at more risk of abuse more so sexual abuse than their counterparts in two parents’ families. It is assumed that children from single parents are at lower risks of sexual abuse because they lack male figures in their environment but this is not usually the case. In most cases of the single parents neglects their children and leave them at the mercy of the society.

They get exposed to a large number of male figures who ends ups abusing them. Child abuse is an excessive violation of child right which may be physical, psychological or even emotional, that may have an immediate or a long term effect on the life of a child. It may happen in the family setting, day care centers, and schools or in the society generally.

Though there is a common accepted agreement that some violence can be legitimized, under the name ‘necessary punishment’ with the aim of disciplining the child, the level of punishment cannot be scientifically quantified (Sherman 2006) . This paper examines from a broader perspective the recent forms of child violence as reported in the local and international media houses.

Parents, day care centers, house girls ,teachers and the society have for long been punishing children by inflicting pain, especially when the child has done what is believed to be wrong. This is done with the aim of ensuring that the child is disciplined and is meant as a legitimate punishment. However, the punishment is often excessive and thus an abuse. What is not excessive is subject to debate.

• Psychological

A family and society at large is an element of peace and comfort, what we do, what we talk, the environment that we live in creates a picture in a child’s mind that affects the mental stability of the child. It should be noted that a child’s mind is constantly learning and the surrounding of the child have a far reaching effect. In incidences of rape, the child is psychologically affected in its life time especially if counseling support is not given effectively (Loseke, 2006).

Children learn mainly through interaction with other children through playing their various social games. This is a very important exercise in a child’s life but many parents worldwide have denied their children this important socialization process, it may be direct, where children are locked in the house or strictly forbidden from going outside.

Others restrict their child on the children they are expected to play with. On the indirect perspective parents line up numerous duties to be performed by the child either homework or a never ending tuition, all this geared to deny a child free time (Loseke, 1992).

Children between the ages of zero and six year are continuously learning and developing socially and emotionally. For an appropriate development, a child needs love and care from both parents. In the case of families experiencing domestic violence, the social and emotional development of children brought put in such families is affected negatively. Psychological wellness of the child is affected at early age and later in life.

Children are socialized by what they hears, what it sees other people do, the environment around the child the environments and so forth. The child is constantly learning the behaviour that will further be reflected in the teenage.

When a child is exposed to violence behaviour, he/she is more likely to take them positive and later in life at adolescence or a grown up finds itself violent because of what he saw. Technological improvement has brought different method of information dispensing as well socialization mediums, they are both electronic and print media that a child or teenager has access to.

One of the most notable information dispensers is television sets and radio; the technological devises airs both national and international news, TVs can be used to play visual and audio videos. With the increase in media freedom, the media has brought a number of issues that have influenced on the life of a people, they have sometimes aired programs, and music and news that can reign force the vice of violence in children and teenagers.

The people of the area uphold culture; it is transmitted to new entrants into the society; the culture covers in areas of language used by the people, the way they do thing, religion that they practice, structure, identity, norms, belief and values thy hold. there are some cultures that reinforce violence in their countries, for example among the Muslims, there is holy war culture, in case such information is aired through television, someone who does not understand the underlying principle is likely to think that violence pays.

Children and teenagers are spending more times with television sets than they are spending with other people because of the busy schedule of the people. How someone behaves is influence by the exposure that he has. TVs are offering an exposure that is changing increasing chances of violence among children and teenagers.

Theories have been developed to explain why child abuse is still prevalent in many societies. Psychologically, child abuse may be caused by the qualities that the abusers were oriented to since their childhood. It has been observed that parents who have grown up in families where they were abused as children ended up abusing their own children. Another theory that tries to explain the cause of child abuse is the theory of attachment.

The first five years from birth forms the crucial period when the child benefits from the mother from psychological security and physical protection. If a child gets detached from the mother during this crucial period, he may suffer from sociological and psychological problems during his/her latter years. It has been found that most of the children who were not able get parental love at their early stages have resulted in abusing their own children (Lawrence, 2004).

Another cause of child abuse is addiction to alcohol. Most of the fathers, who abuse their children sexually, do it under the influence of alcohol. Nevertheless we can not wholly blame alcohol as the cause of child abuse because some parents abuse alcohol to help them do some of the activities (such as child abuse) that they could not perform under their sober mind.

Sociology explains that, most behavior traits are acquired through learning from the surrounding environment. Individuals who have been brought up in environments with violent behaviors either among siblings, parents or the society at large may end up practicing it on their children as a way of instilling discipline on them (Randall ,Bellack &Michel, 2009 ).

Child abuse is a problem that is affecting many societies. Most of our children have been neglected and this has contributed to the increase in child abuse. There is need to protect these children from both violence and negligence. It is the work of the adults to open they eyes and ears and ensure that child abuse comes to an end.

Proper authorities should be contacted in cases where one notices children being abused either in the form of battering, sexual abuse or denial of food. The society is one of the agents of socialization and if we do not take the responsibilities of looking at the children as our own, then it will be every difficult to curb the vice. More awareness should be provided to the public through the media, newspapers or open meetings with the discussions on child abuse.

Children are innocent beings and need not to suffer under any circumstances. These children are the future generation and if they are abused today, the generation of tomorrow is affected. The media has for long being a whistle Brower in many instances of child abuse. We will interpolate some of the incidences that have been highlighted by the media in the United States of America (Geffner & Hughes, 1988).

There are some reports that have been reported, on August 14, 2007 in New York news daily, a child was said to have been killed by the mother when he was in a life supporting unit. This is not the first time for such in incidences to have happened. As the case has always been the names of the culprits were withheld and not much information later followed about the proceeds of the case.

On May 31, 2005, in New York news daily, reported of a child who had been beaten by the father for the reason that he had failed the exams. These are cases that are many in the country but the government is not doing anything to the culprits. The media reported but as usual no names were mentioned. As much as the culprit is innocent before proved otherwise the media has reliable information that it can give to the authorities and assist in prosecuting the culprits.

People all over the world have different views on whether a child should be punished or not. There are those who see the media overstepping its mandate when it reports incidences of child abuse. There is also the media regulation that may limit the extent to which the media reports these incidences. One of the ways that the media regulation protects the media from doing is revealing the names of the child abuser.

These keep protecting the one who committed the crime. The reporting should be done, and it is important to respect the privacy of the child involved, however there should be well raid measures to ensure that the culprit is punished according to the law of the concerned country. If this is attained then the public will be more willing to report these incidences (Frost Nick Child Welfare, 2005).The believes that the privacy of the child will be protected and the culprit punished. The media has the role to educate the public and ensure that the

A Zambian proverb says-“to protect a child is to protect the world”. This emphasizes the need to protect the child for continuity, it is everyone’s responsibility. Governments should also put in place measures to ensure children’s rights are protected.

Frost Nick Child Welfare. (2005). Child abuse and child protection Major themes in health and social welfare Volume 2 of Child Welfare: Major Themes in Health and Social Welfare . London: Taylor & Francis

Gelles, J. & Lancaster, J. B. (1987). Child abuse and neglect: biosocial dimensions Foundations of human behavior. Aldine Transaction

Geffner, R. R., & Hughes, H. (1988). Research issues concerning Family violence . New York: Wiley.

Lawrence, A. (2004). Principles of child protection: management and practice. McGraw-Hill International.

Loseke R. D. (2006). The battered woman and shelters: The social construction of wife abuse. New York: State University of New York Press

Randall. L. M. ,Bellack, A. &Michel H. (2009). Handbook of family violence. New York: Plenum.

Sherman, W. (2006). Policing domestic violence: Experiments and dilemmas . New York: Free Press

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IvyPanda. (2019, September 11). Effect of Domestic Violence on Children. https://ivypanda.com/essays/effect-of-domestic-violence-on-children/

"Effect of Domestic Violence on Children." IvyPanda , 11 Sept. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/effect-of-domestic-violence-on-children/.

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IvyPanda . 2019. "Effect of Domestic Violence on Children." September 11, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/effect-of-domestic-violence-on-children/.

1. IvyPanda . "Effect of Domestic Violence on Children." September 11, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/effect-of-domestic-violence-on-children/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Effect of Domestic Violence on Children." September 11, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/effect-of-domestic-violence-on-children/.

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• Essay: Effects of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is any abusive behavior used to control a spouse, or partner. Women have been victims of such abuse for many years, and continue to be victimized not only physically, but psychologically. Often, abuse begins with a desire of feeling in control, or feeling in power of the victim.

Next, another important cause as to why domestic violence begins, is substance abuse. “women at the highest risk for being the victim of domestic violence include those with male partners who abuse drugs (especially alcohol), are unemployed or underemployed, afflicted by poverty, or have not graduated from high school,” (Roxanne Dryden-Edwards). Also, issues like poverty and homelessness emerge as a result of domestic violence.

“Between 25%-50% of homeless families have lost their homes as a result of intimate partner violence.” (Roxanne Dryden-Edwards). Also, women who experience domestic abuse might resort to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, ultimately becoming addicted to such substances. Victims also experience physiological damage, to the point of developing serious conditions like the Stockholm Syndrome.

Although there are many causes, the effects of domestic abuse on women are quite detrimental to not only their psychological, but physical health as well.

First of all, domestic abuse begins as the partner wants to feel in control of the relationship, “Domestic abuse between spouses or intimate partners is when one person in a marital or intimate relationship tries to control the other person.

The perpetrator uses fear and intimidation and may threaten to use or may actually use physical violence.” (Tina de Benedictis, Jaelline, and Jeanne Segal). The abuser focuses on intimidating the other partner using verbal, nonverbal, or physical tactics to ultimately gain control over the other person.

For the other person to comply with their desires, the abuser might also resort to using emotional abuse, “Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling, blaming, and shaming. Isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior also fall under emotional abuse.” (Stop Violence Against Women).

The perpetrator may isolate the victim from friends and family, or manipulate them into thinking they are to blame for the abusive behavior.

Next, another, yet equally important cause for domestic violence is substance abuse. “substance abuse occurs in conjunction with intimate partner violence anywhere from 40 to 60 percent of the time. Additionally, approximately 20 percent of abusive males admit to consuming some type of drug and/or alcoholic beverage before acting aggressively toward their partners.” (rehabcenter.net).

Substance abuse and domestic violence most of the time go hand in hand. Whether it is one of the partners, or both that are having an excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs, such substance abuse leads to violent acts. This is because when being in an impaired state many people cannot find a way to suppress their anger, and ultimately take it out on their partners.

“The risk for violent behavior increases with intoxication, but only among individuals who are prone to suppressing their feelings of anger while they are sober. Testing people who reported that they were prone to burying their angry feelings, researchers observed a 5 percent increase in violent behavior that followed a 10 percent increase in drinking to the point of getting drunk.” (americanaddictioncenters.org).

This comes to show, that people who experience intolerance or have anger issues are more likely to be violent when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Accordingly, being in an abusive relationship can have serious effects on the person who is being abused. One of the main issues that emerge after dealing with an abusive partner is poverty or homelessness. “Approximately 50% of all women who are homeless report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness.” (domesticshelters.org; endhomelessness.org).

Many of the people being affected by an abusive partner, feel a desperate need to get away, and often times stay with the partner because they are afraid, or because they are given financial stability. In the end, once they decide to run away from the abuser, since they cannot find the means to sustain themselves, they are faced with the harsh reality of poverty and homelessness.

In the words of researchers, “recent statistics suggest that on a single night in January 2017 16 percent of the overall homeless population, 87,329 people, reported having experienced domestic violence at some point. Research from a study in New York City indicates that one in five families experienced domestic violence in the five years before entering the shelter.” (endhomelessness.org).

This numerical evidence comes to show the reality of many people today, and the detrimental effects domestic violence can have on these victims.

Moreover, contrary to popular belief, it is not only the aggressors who tend to use alcohol and drugs. Often times, drug usage begins because the perpetrator may make the victim forcefully consume such substances, “In some cases, a partner may force the victim to abuse drink or drugs, either as a punishment or as a promise that by joining them in their habit they won’t inflict further violence.” (stepstorecovery.com).

Therefore, when becoming used to consuming drugs, the victim may not want to leave the abuser as they feel afraid of confronting the authorities about their addiction, or many times because they are so addicted to the drugs their partner is providing, that they do not want to lose such supplies.

Drug abuse can also begin as a result of the prolonged hostility, victims tend to look for comfort in substances such as drug and alcohol. Drug abuse emerges as a result of feelings of depression and anxiety, as people try to cope with the psychological effects of domestic violence. “Victims of domestic abuse are more likely to use tobacco and marijuana, as well as engage in other compulsive behaviors, such as eating disorders.

Compared to people who do not experience domestic violence, victims are 70 percent more likely to abuse alcohol.” (americanaddictioncenters.org). The presence of alcohol or drugs in the victim’s body is dangerous for a few reasons. First, being in an impaired state makes the victim more vulnerable and weaker to the point in which they cannot defend themselves from the abuse, making it easier for the abuser to take full control of the situation.

Next, when the victim is under the influence of such substances, it becomes harder for them to assess the hostile situation they are in, thus remaining in it because of the damaging effects of drugs or alcohol.

Aside from the physical damage domestic abuse causes, there are emotional and psychological scars left during and after the abuse. Feelings of depression, low self-esteem, and questioning sense of self are some of the few emotional effects victims suffer. Abusers, tend to isolate the victim from their loved ones, set barriers as to what they can and cannot do, and bully them with harmful words to the point of stripping the victim of all that is theirs and damaging their psychological stability.

These issues are damaging to the victim, to the point of developing psychological conditions such as the Stockholm Syndrome. “ Stockholm Syndrome  is also common in long-term abuse situations. In Stockholm Syndrome, the victim is so terrified of the abuser that the victim overly identifies and becomes bonded with the abuser in an attempt to stop the abuse. The victim will even defend their abuser and their emotionally abusive actions.” (Tracy).

The danger in having this syndrome is that the victim, after receiving such abuse for a prolonged period of time and finally leaving the relationship, might actually want to go back with the abuser.  “Local law enforcement personnel have long recognized this syndrome with battered women who fail to press charges, bail their battering husband/boyfriend out of jail, and even physically attack police officers when they arrive to rescue them from a violent assault.” (Joseph M Carver).

Partners who suffer from this syndrome, ultimately end up not pressing charges and staying in the harmful relationship, being unable to recognize they are being harmed and their partner is to blame for this hostile situation. This puts the person at risk of living in an abusive relationship once again and worsening the situation as the abuser may want to take revenge on the victim for trying to leave the relationship.

All in all, the causes for domestic violence begin with one goal. This goal is set with the purpose of feeling power and control over the other individual. It is reached by setting boundaries, isolating the other partner from their friends, family, and all loved ones, and even financially control them. Domestic violence is not only physically harming the partner, but inflicting emotional pain as well.

Psychological abuse is inflicted by the abuser when saying harmful words to the victim, taking away things that are theirs, and most importantly, not loving them as should be. The effects domestic abuse has on the victims are many. One of the effects, which is one of the biggest issues in America, is homelessness. Victims reach this point when trying to flee from an abusive home. Also, drug abuse is an outcome of domestic violence as when trying to cope with anger and pain, victims see a way out in drugs and alcohol, which is damaging to their health.

Finally, this is a very delicate topic that brings many detrimental effects to many women all over the world, and each passing day it is affecting many more.

Reference Page

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<https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-and-violence/>.

domesticshelters.org.

domesticshelters.org . Vers. web. 07 Jan. 2015. 18 06 2018.

<https://www.domesticshelters.org/domestic-violence-statistics/homelessness-and-domestic-violence>.

endhomelessness.org. Vers. web. n.p n.p n.p. 18 June 2018.

<https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-homelessness/domestic-violence/>.

Joseph M Carver, PhD.

counsellingresource.com . Vers. web. 20 Dec. 2014. 18 Jun. 2018.

<https://counsellingresource.com/therapy/self-help/stockholm/>.

rehabcenter.net.

rehabcenter.net . Vers. web. n.p n.p n.p. 18 June 2018.

<http://www.rehabcenter.net/domestic-violence-and-substance-abuse/>.

Roxanne Dryden-Edwuards, MD.

medicine.net . Ed. MD Melissa Conrad Stöppler.

Vers. web. n.p n.p n.p. 17 June 2018.

<www.medicinenet.com/domestic_violence>.

stepstorecovery.com. Vers. web. n.p n.p n.p. 18 June 2018.

<https://www.stepstorecovery.com/alcohol-drug-education/understanding-the-link-between-substance-abuse-and-domestic-violence/>.

Stop Violence Against Women.

domesticviolenceinfo.ca . n.p n.p n.p. 17 June 2018.

<http://www.domesticviolenceinfo.ca/article/emotional-abuse-231.asp>.

Tina de Benedictis, Ph.D., Ph.D., Jaelline and Ph.D Jeanne Segal.

aaets.org . Vers. web. n.p n.p n.p. 17 June 2018.

<http://www.aaets.org/article144.htm>.

Tracy, Natasha.

healthyplace.com . Vers. web. 26 May 2016. 18 06 2018.

<https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/emotional-psychological-abuse/effects-of-emotional-abuse-on-adults>.

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Domestic Violence: Cause-effect Essay

Domestic violence has been rampant in the modern world today. There are frequent causes that and effects that lead to domestic violence in marriages. It entails one person in a relationship controlling the other through using any unfair means (Healey, pg 23). Most victims of domestic violence tend to be women. It includes emotional, sexual abuse, psychological and physical abuse.

Unfaithfulness in the relationship causes domestic violence. Thus, unfaithfulness leads to the inability for one partner to trust the other. The effect of this is that it will lead to misunderstanding and many small issues in the relationship. In the recent past, I have witnessed my friends have minor issues in their relationship just because the guy found out that his lady had gone out with friends during the weekend. Going out without informing the other partner could cause the guy losing trust in the lady and hence the effects are issues in relationships.

The effect of unfaithfulness in the relationship affects children continues to affect even. Thus domestic violence through unfaithfulness affects children either directly or indirectly. The consequence of domestic violence is felt by children as they will feel disturbed if their parents are fighting or not together. In the recent case study, a child reported to his teacher that he did not do his homework because his parents had been fighting the whole night. Thus, the child feels the effect of domestic violence which was caused by one unfaithful partner. Children tend to feel disturbed when they see their parents involve themselves in a fight (Miller, 102. Thus the effect or stress on children could have been caused by domestic violence.

Through personal observation, I have witnessed on how abusive relationships turn out to be harmful. Therefore, lack of respect to one partner leads to the development of an abusive relationship. An abusive relationship may lead to being in an unhealthy relationship or a hurtful ending as one partner may be forced to commit suicide. Suicide causes which are as a result of an abusive relationship are commonly among university teens. The reason for one partner decided to take off her life may be because the partner always cheats on her or the partner does not respect her decisions. Suicide in a relationship is thus grouped to be as an effect or result of domestic violence which is caused by abusive relationships.

Stress is one of the effects of domestic violence. Through fighting and abusive relationship, stress is developed as a result. Similarly, if one person is stressed so much, the person will develop depression. Therefore, depression in a person is caused by stress which is caused by domestic violence. Thus, depression is formed as a result of pressure brought by domestic violence in a relationship. Statistics indicate that 1 out of 5 individuals who have heartbreaks in relationships develop depression.

As discussed above domestic violence is developed as a result of unfaithfulness in a relationship. Certainly, unfaithfulness has its cause in a relationship. In most cases, unfaithfulness may be as a result of the distance between two partners. Unfaithfulness caused by long-distance leads to domestic violence. As discussed above, unfaithfulness equally will lead to the abusive relationship in which its effect may be one partner committing suicide. The causes were leading to results as presented in the case of stress where stress caused by abusive relationship causes depression.

Works cited

Healey, Justin. Domestic Violence. Thirroul, N.S.W: Spinney Press, 2005. Print.

Miller, Alice. The Body Never Lies: The Lingering Effects of Cruel Parenting. New York: W.W. Norton, 2005. Print.

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