PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

Preliminary research



Preliminary research

Introduction

Domestic Violence is a pattern of coercive control that one person exercises over another. Domestic abusers usually cause physical harm, arouse fear, prevents partner from doing what they wish to or forces them to behave in ways they normally don't. Domestic violence is a threat that is tearing up more and more American families everyday and effects more than one group of people.

Domestic Violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “83% percent of respondents strongly agreed that domestic violence affects people in all racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic backgrounds.” (NDVH5) Married, living together or dating domestic violence doesn't discriminate. It has been shown time & time again with cases such as OJ Simpson & Scott Peterson domestic violence shouldn't be taken lightly.

Domestic Violence takes on three major forms emotional, physical, and sexual. Emotional abuse is the throwing away of the victim's self-confidence, sense of self-worth; trust in their own perceptions, and self-concept. Physical abuse is abuse-involving contact intended to cause feeling of intimidation, pain, injury, or other physical suffering or harm. Sexual abuse is the forcing of undesired sexual acts by one person upon another. There are many signs of someone being in an abusive relationship. The most considerable is the fear of your partner actions.

For many years domestic violence has be something a man does to a woman. Not in today's society women are becoming more violent with their significant others. Cases are popping up all over the country of women attacking or killing their husbands. According to Sage Publications, “ 12-40 percent of injuries and homicides are inflicted by women. The NVAW survey found that women's violence led to 40 percent of all the past years injuries, created 27 percent of the injuries requiring medical attention, accounted for 38 percent of feared bodily injury.” (SAGE4) Domestic violence is a serious problem women and men should both take responsibility for their actions. Domestic violence isn't one-sided.

A recent story of domestic violence Rhianna and Chris Brown are having their lives torn apart because of acts of violence. The couple was on there way home from a party. Chris on the phone with another woman getting Rhianna upset and she began hitting him. He then hit her back slamming her head against the glass window. Chris Brown only 19 years old recently appeared on the Tyra show giving his history with domestic violence. Chris Brown's father abused his mother for most of his childhood. Which began the cycle of domestic violence from one generation to another.

Domestic violence becomes a cycle when a child becomes a witness. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “ Witnessing violence between ones parents or caretakers is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.” (NCADV6) Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become ...