Domestic Abuse

1
Domestic Abuse

• Ellen G. McDaniel, M.D.

2
Introduction

• What is domestic abuse?
• A pattern of violent, controlling, intimidating,
  humiliating behavior by one member of a household
  against another.

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Examples of Domestic Abuse

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse of children and adults
• Stalking
• Harm to pets
• Destruction of property

• Gross neglect
• Mental harassment, intimidation, humiliation,
• Elder abuse
• Forced social isolation

4
Causes of Domestic Abuse

• Drugs and Alcohol
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of emotional language
• Conflict resolution by physical means
• Social immaturity
• Social isolation
• Mental illness

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Causes of Domestic Abuse

• Significant stress
• Strong dependency needs
• Sense of entitlement
• Childhood history of abuse
• Historical trends
• Societal response
• Justice system issues

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Effects of Domestic Abuse

• Teaches the next generation to be perpetrators
  and victims
• Increases vulnerability to substance abuse and
  mental illness of all family members,
  e.g. Anxiety, Depression, etc. Characterologica
  l distortion

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Effects of Domestic Abuse

• Increases possibility of violence and crime
  outside the home
• Dysfunction in important life tasks, e.g. school,
  work, parenting

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Battered Spouse Syndrome

• Insidious onset
• Tolerance of increasing levels of violence
• Humiliation with hiding of abuse
• Stalking
• Social isolation

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Battered Spouse Syndrome

• Increasing tunnel vision
• Assumption of responsibility for abuse
• Lowered self-esteem

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Battered Spouse Syndrome

• Learned helplessness
• Victim Mentality
• Increased dependency on abuser

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Battered Spouse Syndrome

• Physical injury
• Abuse of children
• Mental illness
• Substance abuse
• Seen in all socio-economic classes

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Battered Spouse SyndromeThe Battering Cycle

• Tension Reduction Phase
• Acute Battering Incident
• Loving Contrition

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Why do women stay?

• Learned helplessness
• Tunnel Vision
• Destruction of support network
• Lack of financial resources
• Fear of future abuse if leave
• Assumption of responsibility for being abused

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Why do women stay?

• Management of children
• Mental illness
• Failure of legal and medical systems to identify,
  support and protect
• Feelings of sympathy for the perpetrator

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What to doduring a violent argument?

• NEVER argue if either is under the influence of
  drugs or alcohol
• Dont argue back
• Avoid kitchens and bathrooms
• Avoid rooms without exits
• DONT reach for a kitchen knife
• LEAVE

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Protecting Oneselffrom Screening for Domestic
Violence by Katherine Little in Postgraduate
Medicine, 2000

• PLANNING AHEAD
• Keep emergency numbers posted
• Work out a signal with a neighbor to call for
  help
• Park your car so you are not blocked in
• Keep gas tank full

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Protecting Oneselffrom Screening for Domestic
Violence by Katherine Little in Postgraduate
Medicine, 2000

• Plan with your children. Work out a code or
  signal and teach them to call 911
• Practice ways to get out safely.
• Make an extra set of car keys
• Plan three safe places to go

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Protecting Oneselffrom Screening for Domestic
Violence by Katherine Little in Postgraduate
Medicine, 2000

• Find out ahead of time about legal options
• Open your own post office box
• Have some cash and clothes on hand outside of
  home.

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Protecting Oneselffrom Screening for Domestic
Violence by Katherine Little in Postgraduate
Medicine, 2000

• Make copies of important documents and keep
  outside home.
• Think about a safe deposit box at a bank
  different from one spouse uses.

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Protecting Oneselffrom Screening for Domestic
Violence by Katherine Little in Postgraduate
Medicine, 2000

• ONCE YOU HAVE LEFT
• Keep copies of all protective orders with you at
  all times
• Give copies of protective orders and/or custody
  orders to childrens school and daycare and to
  your employer
• Call police if any violations

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Protecting Oneselffrom Screening for Domestic
Violence by Katherine Little in Postgraduate
Medicine, 2000

• Change locks on household entrances
• Keep car doors locked at all times
• Keep garage door locked
• Plan escape routes

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Protecting Oneselffrom Screening for Domestic
Violence by Katherine Little in Postgraduate
Medicine, 2000

• Get caller ID
• Use voice mail to screen calls
• Notify employer if being stalked
• Establish a support network
• Get help for substance abuse and/or other
  emotional problems
• BREAK THE SILENCE

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Legal Remedies

• 911
• Pressing charges
• Following through as a witness
• Ex Parte
• Possibility of introducing Battered Spouse
  Syndrome to reduce a first degree murder to a
  general intent crime.

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Getting Help

• NATIONAL
• National Hotline on Domestic Violence (800)
  799-7233 and TDD [phone]
• Web Site www.dvcme.org

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Getting Help

• LOCAL
• 911
• Crisis Clinic, UMD
• Psych Urgent Care [phone]
• House of Ruth 24/7
• [phone] and TDD [phone]

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Getting Help

• LOCAL
• Adults, UMD--- PARC
• Inpt or Hospital-based Outpt.
• (Psych. Assessment and Referral Center) (410)
  328-6231
• Adults, UMD
• Outpatient, office based
• 410-328-6106

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Getting Help

• LOCAL
• Children, UMD
• PARC, Inpt or Hospital based
• [phone]
• Outpt, office-based,
• Psychiatry Associates
• [phone]

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Getting Help

• Psychiatry Associates
• [phone]
• Anger Management
• Couples Therapy
• Family Therapy