Describe the various myths associated with the cause of domestic violence.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers may vary.Empirical research has contributed to our understanding of domestic violence. We are now better able to recognize the false beliefs about family violence, which are relevant to how such offenses are investigated and prosecuted.• Myth 1: Family violence is perpetrated only by men. A review of over 200 studies with data on domestic violence by both men and women observed comparable rates for both genders, supporting the "gender symmetry" of violence in the home. This is an area fraught with debate; some have suggested that this gender symmetry applies to less serious aggression (e.g., slapping, shoving) but not more severe violence (e.g., choking, punching, use of a weapon). In light of all the research reviewed, however, two conclusions have been drawn: (1) domestic violence prevention could be enhanced by addressing interventions to girls and women as well as boys and men and (2) the effectiveness of offender treatment could be enhanced by changing treatment programs to address assaults by both partners when applicable.• Myth 2: Family violence is confined to people with behavioral health disorders. When we hear or read that a woman has plunged her two-year-old son into a tub of boiling water or that a man has had sexual intercourse with his six-year-old daughter, our first reaction might be, "That person is terribly sick!" The portrayal of family violence in the mass media often suggests that "normal people" do not harm family members. In reality, however, family violence is too widespread to be adequately explained by mental illness, although perpetrators of serious domestic violence often experience depression or personality disorder.• Myth 3: Family violence is confined to poor people. Violence and abuse are more common among families of lower socioeconomic status, but they are by no means limited to such families. There are risk factors associated with poverty (e.g., unemployment, limited education, and sparse social support) that increase the risk for family violence.• Myth 4: Battered women like being hit; otherwise, they would leave. Faced with the fact that many female victims of partner violence do not leave even the most serious of abusers, people seek some rational explanation. A common belief is that women who remain in violent relationships must somehow provoke or even enjoy the violence. This form of "blaming the victim" is not a useful explanation. The concept of learned helplessness is much more useful in explaining why so many women endure such extreme violence for so long.• Myth 5: Alcohol and drug abuse are the real causes of violence in the home. "He beat up his children because he was drunk" is another popular explanation of domestic violence, and most studies do find a considerable relationship between drinking and violence, especially among male perpetrators. Some assume that as alcohol is a disinhibitor of behavior, it, therefore, facilitates the expression of violence. Although there is certainly some truth to this, those who have been drinking may also tend to place more blame on their condition than is justified ("I was drunk and didn't know what I was doing"). Furthermore, those who have trouble controlling their aggressive behavior while drinking can certainly anticipate this and take steps to manage their risk (e.g., drinking in moderation or not at all).