Nicole Ashlee Cuc April

Definition:

Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behavio urs used by one person in a
relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married;
heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.

Examples of abuse include:

name-calling or putdowns
keeping a partner from contacting their family or friends
withholding money
stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job
actual or threatened physical harm
sexual assault
stalking
intimidation

ANYONE CAN BE A VICTIM! Victims can be of any age, sex, race, culture, religion,
education, employment or marital status. Although both men and women can be
abused, most victims are women. Children in homes where there is domestic
violence are more likely to be abused and/or neglected. Most children in these
homes know about the violence. Even if a child is not physically harmed, they
may have emotional and behaviour problems.

How Violence is Seen in Australia:

These are usually the main factures of abuse:
Verbal abuse which is also known as verbal bullying is described as a using your words to
make someone fill less then satisfied within themselves and making the abused feel non-
existent.
Physical Abuse:
physical assault is known as hitting, pushing, kicking, shoving, really anything that
involves unwanted physical interaction.
Sexual Abuse:
sexual abuse unwanted or forced sexual activity, and stalking.

Financial Abuse:
The abuser usually controls the finances, so the abused has no money to be able to escape,
they have no leg to stand on and so are forced to stay in the situation.
Emotional Abuse/Psychological Abuse:
Emotional Abuse also known as Psychological abuse, the abuser usually subjects the person
to point of psychological trauma, such as anxiety, chronic depression or post-traumatic stress
disorder.
Spiritual Abuse:
Most spiritual abuse is inflicted by Christians who are very sincere, who believe they are
obeying the Bible in sharing Christ with others, and who often believe that they are being led
by the Holy Spirit.

Law:
In Australia, domestic violence is defined by Family Law Act 1975 as "violent, threatening or
other behaviour by a person that coerces or controls a member of the person's family, or
causes the family member to be fearful".

History- How the past influences the present.

During the 1950`s and 1969`s women were blamed for being the victims of domestic violence.
Domestic violence was also deemed as a private matter with many police officers and medical
practitioners not intervening as domestic violence was a matter between a husband and wife.

Domestic violence against women was socially accepted and was often look upon with
humour. Limited services were available for victims until the 1970`s when domestic violence
started to become a public issue due to the feminist movements around the world. For
example the Battered Womens Liberation Movement exposed the law and medical neglect
towards the millions of domestic violence victims. The Womens Liberation opened the first
womens Australian shelter in Sydney in 1974.

In the early years of domestic violence becoming a public problem it was seen as only being
physical abuse between married couples, the meaning of domestic violence has evolved over
the decades as it not just physical abuse, just to name a few emotional and financial abuse
between any kind of relationship is considered domestic violence.

Three of the most common Diagnosis of abusers are:

1. Antisocial personality disorder deceitfulness, repeatedly lying, uses conning for
personal profit or pleasure.
2. Borderline personality disorder pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal
relationships by alternation between extreme idealizations and devaluation.
3. Narcissistic personality disorder a grandiose sense of self-importance

Results of domestic violence or abuse:

In 200203 in Australia, the total cost of domestic violence to victims, perpetrators, friends
and families, communities, government and the private sector was estimated to be more than
$8b (Access Economics 2004). In 200809, the total cost of all violence against women and
their children (including non-domestic violence) was estimated to have cost the Australian
economy $13.6b and, if no action were to be taken to address the problem, will cost $15.6b
in 202122 (KPMG Management Consulting 2009).
The results of domestic violence or abuse can be extremely long lasting. Causing people who
are abused to have sleeping problems, depression, anxiety attacks, low self-esteem. Not
being able to trust others, feeling of being abandoned, anger, unable to work, sensitive to
rejection, diminished mental and physical health, poor relationships with those close to them
including their children. In many cases the domestic violence and abuse can lead to death

Results on children growing up in a domestic violent house:

Abuse is a learned behaviour which in some cases have been learned early on in childhood
and have given an abuser the understanding that violence was a way of maintaining control
in the family unit.

Children witnessing domestic abuse may develop emotional, behavioural, developmental or

academic problems. They may become more violent themselves and or withdrawn,
depressed and have low self-esteem. Some children try to be the perfect child.
Boys who witness violence against women learn that women are not to be valued or
respected and are more likely to abuse women as they grow up. Girls who witness, domestic
violence are more likely to be victimised by their future husbands/partners.

Children and teens growing up in a domestic violent house hold are more likely to use violence
at school or in the community, attempt suicide, use drugs, commit crimes especially sexual
assault, use violence to enhance reputation/ self-esteem more likely to have eating disorders,
teenage pregnancy, leave school early and become abusers in their own relationships later in
life. 42 per cent of Indigenous children reporting that they witnessed violence against their
mother or stepmother, compared with 23 per cent of all children.

Triggers coursing abusive behaviour:

A common start to domestic violence is when one partner feels the need to control and
dominate the other. Alcohol and drugs can contribute to violent behaviour as these lessen
self-control when it comes to violent impulses. Life changes may also contribute like
pregnancy, family members health, long periods of unemployment and financial issues.
Disagreements, fear their partner is going to leave them, anger, humiliation, failures, jealousy
and envy are common triggers for violence. Some have traditional ideas when it comes to
men and women and believe they have the right to control their partner because of the belief
that women are not equal to men.

These common triggers that can set off an abuser are only to help us understand why an
abuser believes it is acceptable to abuse not to justify the actions of an abuser.
Who abuses: characteristics and diagnosis:
Abusers usually have a difficulty toleration injury, entitlement, lack of empathy,
accountability and unaddressed trauma. A few of the frequent characteristics an abuser may
have are that they blow up in anger over small things, are extremely jealous, like to isolate
others, have poor self-image and are highly insecure.
They cannot or refuse to take ownership of their own mistakes, are very manipulative, abuse
alcohol and or drugs, may have a family history of violence, may be cruel to animals or other
children, have a fascination with weapons, solve conflicts with violence, uses physical force in
arguments, verbal threats, hold rigid stereotypes when it comes to the roles of men and
women, are very controlling and have unrealistic expectations of their partner.

The Cycle of Violence:

A victim of domestic violence may find leaving the abusive relationship due to the drastic
changing behaviour of the perpetrator. This is portrayed within the cycle of violence theory
developed by psychologist Lenore Walker in 1979 where it describes the phases an abusive
relationship moves through in the lead up to a violent event. This cycle may occur within one
day or it may take weeks or months. However, it is acknowledged that the cycle is not the
same for every relationship although it follows a common pattern or cycle.

1st Phase: Build up

Verbal, emotional or financial abuse occurs when tension between the people in the
relationship starts to increase.
2nd Phase: Stand over
The behaviour of the abuser intensifies where the victim would feel as though the situation
will explode if they do anything wrong.

3rd Phase: Explosion

This is the phase where the peak of the violence is reached as the perpetrator experiences a
release of tension. The abuser may be unable to deal with their anger in any other way
therefore this feeling may become addictive.
4th Phase: Remorse
The perpetrator starts to feel ashamed therefore they become withdrawn and try to justify
their actions to themselves and others. Most of the time, they are unaware that they are
addicted to the release they have just experienced.

5th Phase: Pursuit

The abuser blames their violence on other factors such as alcohol or stress and promises
never to be violent again. Their behaviour would change completely as they would be
attentive towards the victim including buying gifts or helping around the house. This would
make the victim confused but relieved that the violence is over.
6th Phase: Honeymoon
The severity of the abuse and violence in the relationship may be in denial by both people
which leads to an increase in intimacy where both feel happy and want the relationship to
continue which results in ignoring the possibility that the violence could happen again.
However, over time, this phase passes and the cycle may begin again.

Social Effects:
Domestic violence can have serious impacts on the way a person think and interacts with the
world around them as they may produce a temporary or permanent change in their physical
health and emotional state if they are exposed to violence within their immediate social
environment. This would affect their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, significantly
impacting on their mental stability. It could also change ones worldview and outlook on life.
This may be resulted from feelings of hopelessness due to being in a situation where they are
being controlled by another. This may cause the victim to develop a negative outlook in which
they may feel damaged or unworthy of a better life. Domestic violence can also strip a
persons sense of safety and security which influences their ability to trust others where they
might feel unmotivated, empty or reaching out is not worth the effort.

Additionally, many victims of abuse also find it difficult to function in their daily lives because
of the effects caused by domestic violence. This may be resultant from absence from work
due to injuries or doctor visits, often causing them to lose their jobs, making it difficult to
leave their abusive situations. Victims of abuse may withdraw from social activities, friends
and/or family where they would lose their network or social support. This isolation may be
resulted from many factors including: the abuser using threats or manipulations, a desire to
keep the abusive nature of the relationship a secret and/or shame of the situation. Another
reason to avoid activities and social situations are due to avoid coming into contact with the
former abusive partner if they have left the relationship.

Structural- Orginisations
There are many orginisations to help protect victims of domestic violence. Orginisations such
as:
1800 Respect provides a confidential phone and online counselling support service for people
at risk of domestic violence. The orginisation was created in October 2010and is the only
national service of its kind. Only employing counsellors with a minimum of a three year
tertiary degree in relevant fields, as well as a minimum of two years of counselling experience.
80 % of the calls are answered within an estimated 20 seconds and a Quick Exit button is
also displayed at the top of each page which goes straight back to a blank google home page.
1800 Respect also offers an app called Daisy.

Daisy is a free app that connects Australians to Australian support services. The services
include the information including phone numbers, opening hours, and websites of 237
support services Australian wide, send an SMS alert to chosen friends and directly contact the
police, just to name a few.

Aurora is another free app available that can send individual or groups messages to friends.
The SMS options include Call Me- which lets a friend know to call you as for an example an
interruption. Come Pick Me Up- for when someone meeds to be taken out of a situation.
Call The Police For Me- which lets friends know that you need the police but cannot call 000
so they can call for you, Custom Message- which sends a message to friends that you write
that could be a code that you need help, and is also calls emergency services.

White Ribbon which is global movement operating in 57 countries, working with men and
boys to stop violence against women. White Ribbon holds an annual event to raise awareness
from November 25 to December 6, they engage men to make women`s safety a mens issue
and men speak to other men regarding keeping women safe.
Critical: How we can improve our social environment
There is an increase in risk that someone would become a victim of domestic violence,
continue to experience violence because they are unable to leave if they have problems
accessing important support networks or services. Victims are more likely to contact family
or friends rather than specialised support agencies. Some factors preventing a victim from
seeking help may include: lack or available service, limited awareness of services, shame or
embarrassment, fear that they will not be believed or perception that services are not able to
offer assistance.

It is necessary to establish strategies to overcome these barriers to ensure that victims are
able to access support services to reduce the risk of violence. Some approaches to preventing
domestic violence that are seen as effective include: social marketing and awareness
campaigns, early childhood and family based prevention, school-based programs, regulations
on the portrayal of violence in the media, interventions to reduce the availability of alcohol
and its misuse and criminal justice responses.

However, there are many factors that need to be considered in addressing future domestic
violence initiatives. Some main areas involve, ensuring adequate long term funding for
domestic violence services and that service systems are sufficiently integrated to address the
complex needs of victims.

It is also suggested that individuals who are connected to school or peer networks and have
links with supportive adult family members, experience lower rates or violence.