Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying

Bac. Of Landscape Architecture (Hons),

Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor

EWC661 – ENGLISH FOR REPORT WRITING

(CHAPTER 1)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE : EXPLORING INTO

STUDENT LIFE

Prepared by :
Nur Alia Bt Zahadi (2019593881)
Munirah Bt Mamat Amin (2019593841)
Muhammad Alif Bin Jajuli (2019593973)
Nina Nabila Bt Othman (2019725609)
Naeimah Bt Subki (2019725769)

Checked by :
Madam Zulaikha Khairuddin

2020
TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

3.0 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

4.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

5.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

6.0 SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY

7.0 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

8.0 PREVIOUS STUDY

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter will explain how we studies and understanding towards this research to
create our own objective. Firstly, we will describe the background of the study by cover all the
current issue of domestic abuse that happened whether in Malaysia and oversea. Secondly, we
will justify the research objectives and research questions that used as guideline to obtain more
information regarding this research. Thirdly, explain the significance of the study that define
who will get benefit from this study and how can they benefit from its. Fourthly, we will
describe the limitation of the study that time and setting also influence in getting data for this
research. Lastly, we will explain about previous study mostly in literature review and explain
the main keywords regarding this topic.

2.0 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Domestic violence is the most common form of violence against women. According
to the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, (2017) the
definition of domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour in any relationship that is
used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner.

The World Health Organization, (2015) detailed that the extent of ladies who had ever
experienced physical or sexual brutality or both by a cozy accomplice went from 15% to
71%, with the larger part somewhere in the range of 29% and 62%. The pattern of brutality
against ladies was as of late featured by the India's National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
which expressed that while in 2000, a normal of 125 ladies confronted aggressive behaviour
at home each day, the figure remained at 160 in 2005.(Nirmala Cavalho,2007).

Just as being influenced by physical maltreatment, kids can be influenced by non-physical

local maltreatment dependent on coercive control, for example, seclusion, ceaseless
observing, monetary maltreatment, and verbal and mental maltreatment (Katz, 2016).
Aggressive behaviour at home is a piece of the scene of kid assurance. Government
documentation on kid security titled 'Cooperating to Safeguard Children' (HM Government,
2013) subtleties shielding obligations of experts and associations, and advances a kid fixated
approach dependent on the necessities and perspectives on youngsters (Holt, 2014).
In 2016–2017 (Department for Education [DFE], 2017) the most widely recognized factor
was aggressive behaviour at home which applied to 49.9% of kids out of luck. This fused
brutality coordinated at youngsters or grown-ups in the family unit. The second most regular
factor was psychological well-being at 39.7% which in like manner incorporated emotional
wellness of the kid or grown-ups in the family unit. The predominance of abusive behaviour
at home isn't just high among kids out of luck yet in addition among the more extensive
populace with upwards of one of every six youngsters in the United Kingdom announcing
encountering it during their adolescence (Radford et al., 2011).

Albeit a few kids encountering abusive behaviour at home will show challenges in their
homework, the training of others won't be unfavourably influenced: 'a few youngsters living
with residential maltreatment accomplish exceptionally in school; devoting themselves
completely to class life and work can give a departure' (Sterne and Poole, 2010, p. 23). So
also, while a few understudies influenced by aggressive behaviour at home will encounter
instructive settings as a wellspring of coherence and security, others will encounter them as
trying. It is hence basic to consider the scope of reactions to aggressive behaviour at home
among youngsters.

3.0 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Domestic violence occurs in all countries, rich or poor, developed or developing, with
no regard to caste, creed, colour, social status, wealth, urban or rural residence, or the ages of
victim and aggressor. Malaysia is no exception to the problem of domestic violence. Women,
young people and children are often in great danger in the place where they should be safest
within their families. For many, ‘home’ is where they face a regime of terror and violence at
the hands of somebody close to them – somebody they should be able to trust. Those
victimized suffer physically and psychologically. They are unable to make their own
decisions, voice their own opinions or protect themselves and their children for fear of further
repercussions. Their human rights are denied and their lives are stolen from them by the ever-
present threat of violence.

The accessible information uncovers that there has been an expansion in reports
identifying with abusive behaviour at home in the course of recent years. Measurable records
from Polis Diraja Malaysia (2019) showed that the announced instances of brutality have
expanded from 4,800 cases in 2014 to just about 6,000 cases in 2016. This close to 30 percent
expansion in the quantity of brutality cases revealed is a critical increment that warrants
notice.

Encounters during youth, for example, seeing aggressive behaviour at home and
encountering physical and sexual maltreatment, have been distinguished as elements that put
youngsters in danger. Brutality might be learnt as a methods for settling struggle and stating
masculinity for kids who have seen such examples of compromise. Inordinate utilization of
liquor and different medications has additionally been noted as a factor in inciting forceful
and savage male conduct towards ladies, youngsters and kids.

Sterne and Poole (2010) bring up that the term of youngsters' experiences with
household misuse has a more noteworthy bearing on their feelings of anxiety than the
seriousness of the maltreatment. Mischief brought about by aggressive behaviour at home can
be physical, enthusiastic, conduct, psychological, and social, and impacts are typically
covering and interrelated. In more seasoned youngsters potential markers of abusive
behaviour at home incorporate self-fault, misery, self-hurt, self-destructive ideation,
substance misuse, hazard taking conduct, criminal conduct, poor informal organizations,
antagonism with training, and dietary issues (Children's Commissioner, 2018). Research with
youngsters found that being tuned in to, paid attention to, and mutually associated with
discovering arrangements were key methods for helping them adapt; in situations where
nobody tuned in, youngsters felt 'doubly burdened' (Mullender et al., 2012, p. 121). The
impacts of abusive behaviour at home unmistakably have suggestions for understudy
prosperity and learning.

It is imperative to comprehend and think about maltreatment. The most ideal

approach to know the complexities of individuals' lives is discussion to them actually. Thus,
these are the motivation behind why this investigation should be done and as indicated by
Ravneet Kaur, (2008) the issue of abusive behaviour at home should be brought into open
and analyzed as some other preventable medical issue, and best cures accessible be applied.

4.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To identify the level of their knowledge of domestic abuse towards people that have a
high chance to become victims.
 2. To investigate the experience that have accounted by victims.

3. To determine the relationship between knowledge of abuse and experience by victims.

5.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In this study, few research questions are used as a guideline to obtain information pertaining to
the leaving experience of survivors. The specific research questions are as follows :

1. What is the level knowledge of domestic abuse among people?

2. What is the experience level towards domestic abuse?

3. What are the relationship between knowledge of domestic abuse and the experience by
victims?

6.0 SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY

The finding of the study is expected to give a clear information of Domestic Abuse which has
become a major issue in countries around the world. This is because millions of people suffer
from domestic abuse each year. It affects people from all ages, races, genders, and sexual
orientations. It can also cause injury whether physical or psychological health problems. Other
than that, according to Terra et al. (2017) domestic abuse among parents can also become a
factor of child abuse (p. 2).

So, this research can give a lot of benefits to people. Firstly, it will benefit the victim
of domestic abuse. They can have a knowledge on how to seek help, counselling or treatment
for themselves. Furthermore, it will also give them information on how to defend themselves
during the situation.

Secondly it will benefit the young people who is in a relationship. They can learn on
how to practice a healthy relationship. Moreover, violence against the girl, either through rape
or by affecting a girl’s ability to negotiate contraceptive use may result in unwanted pregnancy.
So, it is important for them to have a knowledge on domestic abuse for early prevention.

Lastly, it will give benefit to society. The research can create an awareness in society
and they can be more sensitive of their surrounding which could help the victims when they
faced the situation.

7.0 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

According to Barbara E. Smith, (2003), the limitations of this study was the low response
rates from the victim. The domestic violence victims are hard to reach, even though after
months of the disposition of the case. We can conclude that all the victims were still insecure,
and did not feel safe even after the arrests were made. They tend to change their contact
numbers since the rates of refusal where smalls victim could be reached by telephone. The
study design allowed questions to be asked about satisfaction with the case and officials, and
renewed problems with the abuser It seems quite probable that the victims who remained in
one place and kept the same telephone number are different in fundamental ways from those
who relocated or changed their numbers. It also is conceivable that those who do make
themselves hard to find are hiding out from the defendant or from the prosecutor. If that is the
case, then these victims would likely have a different perspective than the victims that were
contacted. (p.6)

This study also focuses on only participants which are self-selected group of women
who are willing to be interviewed. The victims are like from the urban areas which diverse in
race, educational background, age, relationship and of course personal experiences. This
study found that they are also encounter the intimate partner violence, their struggles and pain
of being in an abusive relationship, the processes they went through and the resources that
they tried to rely upon to help them leave the abusers. This research is limited in scope and
kind of hard to detail the urge of violent relationships.

The qualitative study of all the victims in their experiences of being abused in
marriages can be the delimitations of this study. Thus, their own personal stories are very
different from each other making it more exposed to new types of cases and violence that can
be explored and applied to all cultures, races and situations.
8.0 PREVIOUS STUDY

1.1 Domestic abuse

1.1.1 Domestic abuse definition

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening,

degrading and violent behavior, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a
partner or ex-partner, but it also happened within family members or care. It is very common.
More of the majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men
(Women's Aid Federation of England, 2019)

1.1.2 Types of Domestic abuse

Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or
threat of physical or sexual violence)

 Psychological and/or emotional abuse

 Physical or sexual abuse
 Financial or economic abuse
 Harassment and stalking

1.2 Impact of Domestic Abuse among teenagers

1.2.1 Domestic Violence in Families

Patrick Damico (2020) found domestic violence develops into more and more
aggressive act between abusers and the victims. This typically becomes more violent
that can appear to be like a pattern to the outsiders or the ones in the relationship.
Hence, experts have identified three stages in the cycle of violence between
partners. These phases are:

 Phase 1: Tension Building: During this initial phase, the relationship

experiences increasing amounts of tension. There’s a breakdown in
communication, fear is increasing, and the victim will do his/her best to
appease the abuser.
  Phase 2: Abuse: The tension explodes into an abusive incident in which
there is anger, blame, rage that gets expressed through emotional, physical,
or verbal abuse.

 Phase 3: Reconciliation/Calm: The abuser apologizes for his/her actions,

gives excuses, blames the victim, or claims that the abuse was not all that
bad. The abuse is forgotten and a honeymoon period begins again.

This cycle typically repeats over and over again, each time becoming more intense.
For some families, domestic violence can lead to death of a partner, hence this will
give such a huge impact towards the children, and teenagers that are still looking
forward their parents and adults in the family.

Although it’s easy to think of a male and female being involved in domestic
violence, with the male as the perpetrator, the cycle of violence can exist between all
types of partners which shows how everyone can be easily exposed and involved in
this domestic violence no matter how old are they.

1.2.2 The Effects of Domestic Violence in the Home

As mentioned above, if there are children or teens in the home, the effects of domestic
violence on the them can be debilitating. Domestic violence is often experienced by
children and teens as a traumatic event. In fact, experts have found that witnessing
violence can have just as severe effects as actually experiencing it. To make matters
worse, domestic violence is not a one-time traumatic event, such as a car accident or a
death of a loved one. Instead, because domestic violence is reoccurring, those
witnessing it are exposed to chronic traumatic experiences.

Children and teens who witness domestic violence between their parents on a regular
basis are at risk for the following:

 Post-traumatic stress disorder

 Anxiety
 High degrees of stress
 Depression
 Substance use and addiction
 Truancy and delinquency
 Self-blame and low self-esteem
 Displays of aggression
 Eating disorders
 Trouble with sleeping regularly
 Somatic complaints (headaches, stomachaches, etc.)
 Hyperactivity
 Hyper-vigilance
 Regression
 Numbing
 Self-harm

More specifically, unlike younger children, teens can begin to externalize their negative
emotions through either talking about what’s going on or through their behavior. Most
commonly, teens who witness domestic violence will begin to withdraw from social
experiences and isolate themselves. They might also become defiant or rebellious at
school. Here are other typical signs of teens who experience domestic violence at home:

 Irritability
 Frequent fighting or aggression at school or between siblings
 Lashing out at objects
 Treating pets with cruelty
 Using aggression as a means to gain attention
 Involved in violent intimate relationship themselves
Sadly, female teens who witness violence at home are more likely to withdraw as their
predominant behavior and may get missed by the caring adults around them as someone in
need of support. Other effects of domestic violence on teens include academic failure,
addiction, and general delinquency. Furthermore, research indicates that an estimated 20% to
30% of all teens who are involved in dating relationships are regularly abusing or being abused
by their partners verbally, mentally, emotionally, sexually, and/or physically.

REFERENCES

WHO. Multi country study on Women's health and domestic violence against women.
Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015.

http://HYPERLINK " http://www.asianews.it" www.asianews.it. Rising domestic violence

[last cited on 2007 Mar 5], [last updated on 2007 Mar 16]

Katz, E. (2016). Beyond the physical incident model: how children living with domestic
violence are harmed by and resist regimes of coercive control. Child Abuse Rev. 25, 46–59.

HM Government (2013). Working Together to Safeguard Children, A Guide to Inter-Agency

Working to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children. London: HM Government. doi:
10.1007/978-1-137-28668-0

Holt, K. (2014). Child Protection. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Department for Education [DFE] (2017a). Characteristics of Children in Need: 2016 to 2017
England. Available at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data
/file/656395/SFR61-.(2017)_Main_text.pdf

Radford, L., Corral, S., Bradley, C., Fisher, H., Bassett, C., Howat, N., et al. (2011). Child
Abuse and Neglect in the UK Today. London: NSPCC

Polis Diraja Malaysia. (2019 ). Statistics on domestic violence cases in Malaysia,

2000-2019. Kuala Lumpur: Author.

Baldry, A. (2017). “It does affect me” disruptive behaviors in preadolescents directly and
indirectly abused at home. Eur. Psychol. 12, 29–35. doi: 10.1027/1016-9040.12.1.29
Mullender, A., Hague, G., Imam, U., Kelly, L., Malos, E., and Regan, L. (2012). Children’s
Perspectives on Domestic Violence. London: Sage Publications.

Pingley, Terra. (2017). The Impact of Witnessing Domestic Violence on Children: A

Systematic Review. Retrieved April 5 2020, from
https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1779&context=msw_papers

Barbara E. Smith, Editor (2003) Domestic violence research (p.6)

Women's Aid Federation of England (2020) What is domestic abuse? – information and
support on domestic abuse

Patrick Damico, (2020) Paradigm Treatment- What Are the Effects of Domestic Violence on
Teens?