ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS

Abusive Relationships



Abusive Relationships

Introduction

Abusive relationship occurs when an individual in an intimate relationship intentionally harms the other person in the relationship. In the 1960s and 1970s, intimate partner violence was increasingly recognized as a problem across the world. Attention from researchers first surfaced when domestic violence advocates called attention to the plight of women victimized by their partners or spouses. Advocates pointed out those criminal justice officials were treating victims poorly, and few services were available to help victims of partner violence. Victimologists began to focus on domestic violence to help advance the area of study beyond the discipline's traditional victim precipitation orientation. The issue quickly moved from being an issue that no one talked about to being recognized as a social problem warranting significant attention from researchers, policy makers, academics, practitioners, and advocates (Hotchkin, 2001).

Since that time, many have accepted that intimate partner violence is a problem that needs to be addressed by different disciplines and practitioners. Most agree that the best response to intimate partner violence involves what is called a “multidisciplinary” or “integrated” response. This means that several different agencies are involved in the preventing and responding to intimate partner violence. Indeed, intimate partner violence is no longer viewed as a family problem that should remain hidden within the confines of victims' homes; rather, intimate partner violence is now regarded as a global public health problem. Fully understanding the integrated response required to address intimate partner violence involves knowledge of the following areas: the types of intimate partner violence, the extent of violence, the dynamics and patterns surrounding such violence, and the causes of intimate partner violence.

Dialogue between Lamar and Sareena

Lamar and Sareena are husband and wife in a relationship. However, things have changed between them as they fight a lot and continuously abuse one another. Lamar is drunk and does nothing but abusing his wife Sareena after intoxication. Here is the dialog between them:

Lamar comes home from work and demands for food

Lamar: is the food ready?

Sareena: Yes, it will be ready in a little while,,

Lamar: I have told you many times that whenever I come home, food should be ready…

Sareena: But I was busy in other household chores, that is why got a little late in making the food.

Lamar: (Gets Angry) starts abusing her that she is always late in making food

Sareena: But it is not my fault, you have nothing else to do except eating food. That is because of your behavior that children also learn to misbehave with others.

Lamar: Abusing her…those are my children and you are not the one to tell me how to behave infront of them

Sareena: You are intoxicated and lose your senses; you don't even know what are you talking about.

Lamar: Shut your mouth up, or else you will be responsible for the consequences

Sareena: (Starts crying) Abusing him and herself…

Lamar: (Smash the door) goes out of the house….

Types of an abusive relationship

Abusive relationship is typically categorized as one of three varieties: (1) physical assault, (2) sexual assault, or ...