Sociology Report: Domestic Violence Causes, Impact, and Theories

This report provides a comprehensive overview of domestic violence, a significant social problem. It begins by defining domestic violence and exploring its various causes, including the desire for control and denial of responsibility. The report highlights the prevalence of domestic violence, citing statistics on its impact in the US and the populations most affected, emphasizing that it affects individuals regardless of gender, age, or background. The report then delves into sociological theories that attempt to explain domestic violence, such as the role of gender, race, and social status. It also discusses theories like the theory of resistance, which focuses on factors preventing respectful treatment of women and children. The report concludes by emphasizing the multifaceted nature of domestic violence and the need for interventions to prevent its escalation. References from various academic sources are included to support the analysis.

Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic Violence
Student’s name
Institution Affiliation(s)

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A description of the social problem you selected and any known causes or explanations for
the problem.
Domestic violence refers to “any acts of exacting physical harm by a household or family
member on another, can also refer to the frequent or routine pattern of such behavior.” Some
researchers are attempting to discover the causes of domestic violence. For instance, specialists
of a Domestic Violence Intervention Project consider the cases and repeating cycles of domestic
violence to be as a result of a desire to establish control over the victim. The main factor of a
man’s aggressive behavior is the denial of responsibility for the committed actions (Pietri &
Bonnet, 2017).
There are robust methods of counterwork against domestic violence such as the
enactment of effective laws and policy procedures, educational and therapy programs for
abusers, shelters for victims, public information campaigns for the prevention of domestic
violence among others. Eventually, the primary goal of any research dealing with domestic
violence is to propose methods of fighting against domestic violence (Popple et al., 2019).
A description of the problem’s prevalence in society
Over the years, domestic violence has been widely associated with severe public health
problems. In recent times, reports show a wide estimate of their prevalence. For instance, in the
US, domestic violence is affecting over 22% of American women throughout their lifetime. Men
are also falling subject to domestic violence. However; in most cases, it is usually situational
couple violence, therefore, likely to be physically unhurt (Henry, 2018).
A description of the specific population impacted by this social problem, if any. If the social
problem you selected does affect a specific population, include an explanation of why that
might be the case.

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Domestic violence can occur to anybody, irrespective of their strength, size or gender, yet
the problem is denied, overlooked or excused. Psychological abuse is mostly overlooked as it
does not leave any visible evidence in the form of marks like physical violence. However, it
leaves emotional scars that can last for a lifetime (“Chapter 3”, p42). The abuser uses domestic
violence to gain control over the abused and maintaining this control in a relationship. An abuser
uses intimidation, fear, guilt, and shame to pull a person down and remain under their influence
and power (Golu, 2014). Other strategies that an abuser may use to inflict domestic violence are
threats of hurting you or those whom you love.
Domestic abuses occur among the couples who are heterosexual as well as those in same-
sex relationships. Domestic violence does not discriminate as it happens in all ethnic
backgrounds, all ages, and economic backgrounds. The most commonly victimized people are
women, who receive physical abuse from their husbands. Men are also emotionally and verbally
abused by their wives, and in some rare cases, they are also physically abused. People deserve to
feel safe, valued and respected and, therefore, any abusive behavior is not acceptable regardless
of its source. The sources of domestic violence could be men, women, or teenagers, and it should
be avoided at all cost (Prenzler & Fardell, 2017).
For anyone to be rescued from an abusive relationship, they must be able to recognize
violence. Domestic violence develops from threats of physical attack that are accompanied by
verbal abuses, which are inclined toward violence (“Center on Budget and Policy Priorities”,
2011). At times, physical injury may result, and least but to mention this is the most noticeable
peril. Besides physical abuse, psychological and emotional costs of domestic violence are severe.
These emotional disturbances from violent relationships can destroy an individual’s self-esteem
resulting in depression and anxiety. Another ill that is associated with low self-esteem is a

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feeling of loneliness and helplessness. Domestic violence is a deadly situation that should not be
endured by anyone, as it robs of the peoples’ right to live the most fulfilling lives while in their
relationships or marriages. Human beings should lead the most comfortable life as they exploit
their full potentials (Najar, 2014).
An explanation of the theories that support the problem and approaches scholars and
policy analysts use to address the problem.
There are various theories developed when analyzing the concern for domestic violence.
These theories associate different variables towards the domestic violence problem; for instance,
there is the case of substance abuse, social status, race, gender and the current relationship
between the partners. For most researchers, the issue of gender has become common with
different evidence on the partner's roles in domestic violence (“Chapter 5”, p81).
In the study carried out by Bettinger-Lopez et al (2011), the authors state that race has a
considerable effect in cases of domestic violence, in the US. His research concludes that blacks
have higher instances relating to domestic violence unlike for white couples. Apart from race, the
same report also associates a larger percentage of domestic violence to social status. In the
report, the authors writes that of the reports there is a higher level of domestic violence on
Hispanics, Alaska Native, African America, and American Indian women. He attributes this to
the social status of these communities of women attributing them to extreme levels of poverty. In
the report by Liptak (2017), they relate the level of domestic abuse to instances of substance
abuse and in their findings; they find that the variable directly relates to domestic violence. Most
research findings always bring out the fact that the issue of gender is inevitable when it comes to
domestic violence. For instance, in the (Kavak, Aktürk, Özdemir, & Gültekin, 2018), reports

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they show that women are in most cases the victims. They also show that to a certain extent men
become victims but on rare occasions.
Another theory, known as the theory of resistance, was offered by Allan Jenkinson, an
American psychologist. He believes that social factors and personal features of a person may
turn into obstacles which would not let a person treat women and children with respect. Among
them, there are traditions, cultural peculiarities, personal habits, values, and so on. According to
this theory, reasons for aggressive behavior lie in a person’s concept of the self and the world
around (Showalter, 2016).
In conclusion, domestic violence can come in different shapes and sizes. It can take the
form of physical, emotional, sexual and economic abuse. Physical abuse is the most famous form
of domestic violence. However, emotional abuse leaves huge scars in the heart of the abused
person that can last for a lifetime. Domestic violence takes place in a pattern that repeats itself,
and the major causes of violence are drug abuse as well as a mental ailment. Domestic violence
is an enormous problem that requires interventions that will stop it from escalating.

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References
Bettinger-Lopez, C., Natelson, R., Park, S., Brandt-Young, C., Romes, A., Carlson, K., …
Thomas, C. (n.d.). A Preliminary Report prepared for Rashida Manjoo, U.N. Special
Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, 82.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2011). Policy basics: Introduction to the federal budget
process. Retrieved from www.cbpp.org/files/3-7-03bud.pdf
Chapter 3, “Social Welfare Policy Analysis” (pp. 33-53)
Chapter 5, “Social/Economic Analysis” (pp. 76-94)
Golu, F. (2014). Predictors of Domestic Violence – Comparative Analysis. The International
Conference PSYCHOLOGY AND THE REALITIES OF THE CONTEMPORARY
WORLD – 4th EDITION - PSIWORLD 2013, 127, 611–615.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.321
Henry, C. (2018). Exposure to domestic violence as abuse and neglect: Constructions of child
maltreatment in daily practice. Child Abuse & Neglect, 86, 79–88.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.08.018
Kavak, F., Aktürk, Ü., Özdemir, A., & Gültekin, A. (2018). The relationship between domestic
violence against women and suicide risk. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 32(4), 574–
579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2018.03.016
Liptak, A. (2017, December 20). Sweeping Ruling on Domestic Violence. The New York Times.
Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/us/justices-view-gun-curbs-
broadly-in-domestic-violence-cases.html

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Najar, N. (2014, March 27). Social Gains for Women Linked to Domestic Violence. Retrieved
March 17, 2019, from https://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/social-gains-for-
women-linked-to-domestic-violence/
Pietri, M., & Bonnet, A. (2017). Analysis of early representations and personality among victims
of domestic violence. Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée/European Review of
Applied Psychology, 67(4), 199–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2017.04.001
Popple, P. R., Leighninger, L., & Leighninger, R. D. (2019). The policy-based profession: an
introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (Seventh Edition). New
York, NY: Pearson.
Prenzler, T., & Fardell, L. (2017). Situational prevention of domestic violence: A review of
security-based programs. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 34, 51–58.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2017.04.003
Showalter, K. (2016). Women’s employment and domestic violence: A review of the literature.
Aggression and Violent Behavior, 31, 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2016.06.017