Power struggle one of many causes of family violence

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HOT TOPICS
Family violence is a person’s way of declaring power and control over another person through abuse. Injury can be physical, emotional, sexual or neglectful, and is usually targeted toward either a spouse or a child. Spouse and child abuse are often interrelated and may occur together or at different times within the family.

Evidence shows that family violence can be linked to several factors:

• a history of abuse within the family;
• problems within the marriage;
• an increase in individual or family stress;
• specific personality traits associated with the abuse;
• social isolation or a limited support network; and
• increased financial pressures.

Physical abuse may include grabbing, pushing, slapping, choking, punching and kicking. Life-threatening physical abuse might involve assaults with knives, firearms or other weapons. The visible signs of physical abuse are the same in spouses and children, and range from minor cuts and bruises to fractures and burns.
Emotional abuse may not cause visible injury, but affects can include low self-esteem; chronic fear or anxiety; conduct disorders; or other cognitive or mental impairment. Psycho-logical or emotional violence is behavioral treatment that entails verbal threats, extreme control, intense jealousy and mental degradation. Property violence also constitutes emotional abuse if it is intended to intimidate and might include throwing food, breaking dishes and destroying a person’s property or injuring one’s pet.

Sexual abuse is forcing one to engage in any sexual activity through violence, intimidation or threat. Sexual abuse includes exploitation, rape, sodomy, molestation and incest.

Neglect is a person’s failure to provide necessary care or assistance for someone who is incapable of self-care physically, emotionally or culturally.

Indicators of abuse

Both spouse and child abuse occur at various levels of severity. Mild abuse involves limited physical injury with no medical treatment needed. Moderate abuse involves minor or major physical injury with short-term medical treatment. Severe abuse involves major physical injury or long-term medical treatment, inpatient care or moving the victims to an alternate environment for safety.

These are some indicators of abuse:

Mild

• Verbal threats;

• Bruises, welts, scratches or abrasions that are confined to one area;

• Hair pulling that does not remove hair.

Moderate

• Minor burns or blisters confined to a small area;

• Bruises, welts, scratches or abrasions that are widespread;

• Small cut requiring stitches;

• Bite marks on any area;

• Second-degree burns;

• Sprains;

• Mild concussions;

• Broken teeth;

• Hair pulling that results in hair removal.
Severe

• Any injury during pregnancy;

• Extensive cuts requiring stitches;

• Head injuries;

• Third-degree burns to any area of the body;

• Minor burns to an extensive area of the body;

• Injuries resulting in impairment to sight, hearing or mental abilities;

• Burns or bruises to the genital area;

• Extensive and multiple bruises in various states of healing, indicating a pattern of abuse;

• Cuts, bruises or abrasions on face, neck or shoulders;

• Minor burns on face or abdomen;

• Any use of torture such as electric shock or burning with objects;

• Preventing a person from breathing for a short period of time;

• Choking or strangling;

• Threats with a knife or gun;

• Sexual abuse;

• Administering any harmful substance.

The violent cycle

Behaviors of victims and offenders show that family violence is usually a continuing, entrapping cycle. First, tension begins to build. Demands are increased, stress escalates and put-downs are frequent. Tension leads to an explosion, such as hitting, humiliating and controlling. After the blow-up, both the victim and offender lapse into a honeymoon phase during which the problems are denied, love is declared or promises are made. The victim finds new hope and believes the relationship will change. However, the issues that initially caused the violenc were not addressed and still exist.

This is the second in a series of articles on countering family violence. It is reprinted from the U.S. Army magazine ‘Hot Topics,’ Current Issues for Army Leaders.