Dynamics of Domestic Violence

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Dynamics of Domestic Violence
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Definition

• Domestic violence refers to abuse in an intimate
  relationship
• Intimate relationship 2 people, dating, living
  together, married or separated
• Abuse not only behavior, but meaning, intent
  and effect

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Red Flags

• Experiences fear with their partner
• Feels unsafe at home
• Physically injured
• Actions, speech and relationships are controlled

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Not All Bad Behavior is Abusive

• Disagreement and fighting is normal
• Behaviors that seem wrong to you, may be
  acceptable to others
• Intention, effect, risk of physical danger

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It Depends

• Intention of perpetrator
• To control by frightening or harming
• Effect on the victim
• Frightened or harmed
• Pattern or repetitive nature
• Incident is not unique in the relationship, but a
  pattern

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Form of Abuse

• Physical Abuse
• Most obvious
• Sexual Abuse
• Forced sex or acts
• Denial of contraception
• Forcibly subjected to violence sexual material

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Power Control Wheel

• Intimidation
• Emotional Abuse
• Isolation
• Minimizing, Denying Blaming
• Children
• Privilege
• Economic Abuse
• Coercion Threats

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Leaving vs. Staying

• Leaving does not always equal safety
• Leaving or having left is often the most
  dangerous time
• Sometimes staying is the safest option

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Factors

• External
• Housing
• Money
• Religion
• Family
• Community
• Lack of support
• Police
• Courts
• Clergy

• Internal
• Maintain household
• Childrens relationship
• Feeling responsible for partners welfare
• Love
• Fear

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Prevalence

• Intimate partner violence is primarily a crime
  against women. In 2001, women accounted for 85
  of the victims of intimate partner violence and
  men accounted for approximately 15 of the
  victims.
• Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief,
  Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February
  2003.

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Prevalence

• In the year 2001, more that half a million
  American women (588,490 women) were victims of
  nonfatal violence committed by an intimate
  partner.
• Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief,
  Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February
  2003.

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Prevalence

• As many as 324,000 women each year experience
  intimate partner violence during their pregnancy.
• Gazmariarian JA, Petersen R, Spitz AM, Goodwin
  MM, Saltzman LE, Marks JS. Violence and
  reproductive health current knowledge and future
  research directions. Maternal and Child Health
  Journal 2000 4(2) 79-84.

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Prevalence

• On average, more the 3 women are murdered by
  their husbands or boyfriends in this country
  every day. In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by
  an intimate partner. The same year, 440 men were
  killed by an intimate partner.
• Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief,
  Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February
  2003.

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Implications

• Abuse in intimate relationships is common enough
  that somebody you know or work with, will be
  affected by it.
• Therefore, it is important that you can recognize
  it and respond sensitively.

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The Helpers Role

• Give LIFE
• Listen
• Inform
• Facilitate
• Empower

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Screening

• Make it standard
• Because this issue is so prevalent, we ask
  everybody these questions.
• Its okay to ask about safety

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Questions

• Avoid loaded questions or words
• abused or domestic violence
• What happens when you and your partner have a
  disagreement?
• Have you ever been afraid of your partner?
• Is there anyone in your life that is harming
  you?

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DONT

• Avoid why
• Implies victim responsibility
• The batterer is the one who is responsible for
  the violence.

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DO

• Know your local referrals
• Make meaningful referrals

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Safety Planning

• Purpose of safety planning is to reduce risk
• Good safety plans are personalized and flexible

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Financial Safety Planning

• After leaving
• Shred all bills so abuser cannot steal new
  account numbers from trash
• Gain a copy of credit report and dispute errors
• Change all PIN codes
• Ensure abusers name is off utility accounts
• Workplace safety

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Financial Safety Planning

• In the relationship
• Discover assets
• Access to cash and account numbers
• Locating important documents
• Budgeting
• When considering leaving
• Consider workplace safety
• Safely store documents and cash