Why does domestic violence happen?
• All About Control
There are varying theories about what makes batterers use abuse with those closest to them. One view is that batterers are hardened criminals who commit their crimes in a conscious, calculated manner to achieve the dominance they believe men are entitled to. Others believe abuse is the product of deep psychological and developmental scars, which are not gender-specific.
Experts have reached a consensus on several common characteristics among batterers—they are controlling, manipulative, often see themselves as victims and believe that men have a pre-ordained right to be in charge of all aspects of a relationship.
One study found that in many cases acts of domestic violence are mate retention behaviors, that is, actions taken by one partner to try to preserve and maintain their relationship with the other partner.
• Mate Retention Behaviors
For some abusers, violence is a tool to keep their intimate partner from leaving the relationship or keeping them from being unfaithful, even if it means physically forcing them to stay.
One batterer who has now gone through treatment, says "the beatings, the verbal abuse, and the intimidation were all about control. It was like having a new toy," he said. "I had the buttons and I could make her do whatever I wanted. I was trying to intimidate her. I wanted to control her for the simple reason that I knew I could do it. It made me feel powerful."
• The Abuse Cycle
According to the Women's Issues and Social Empowerment (WISE) of Australia, the issues of power and control are essential to an understanding of Domestic Violence. "Domestic Abuse occurs in relationships where conflict is the continuous result of power inequality between the partners and one partner is afraid of and harmed by the other," they say.
Although it can vary from case to case, and doesn't take into account other forms of domestic abuse, WISE uses the "Cycle of Violence" as a model for understanding violent behavior. A simplified version of the cycle is online, but briefly, the phases are:
Build-Up Phase - The tension builds.
Stand-Over Phase - Verbal attacks increase.
Explosion Phase - A violent outburst occurs.
Remorse Phase - You shouldn't have pushed me, it was your fault!
Pursuit Phase - It will never happen again, I promise.
Honeymoon Phase - See, we don't have any problems!
This cycle concerns actual physical abuse. It does not take into account other forms of domestic abuse that are used to control, such as sexual abuse, verbal abuse, psychological and emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, economic abuse, and social abuse.
(Why Domestic Abuse Happens
It's All About Control
By Buddy T)
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2019/11/05/doctor-allegedly-assaulted-girlfriend-after-she-refused-to-have-sex-causing-facial-fractures
