Research on family violence had discovered some basic contributing factors. Findings reveal that family background, media, stress, and alcohol play a role in domestic violence.
Family Background
Simply being an eyewitness to family violence has a great effect on a youngster. A child witnessing his mother being battered is equivalent to the child being battered. When a young man sees his father abuse his mother, he is inadvertently conditioned to believe that men must control women and that in order to do so, men must scare, hurt, and demean them. This is not the case all the time, in some cases, this could create awareness in the child that violence towards women is bad when he sees his mother suffer. Parents should be cautious when it comes to monitoring their own behaviour as role models for their impressionable children.
Stress
Pregnancy, unemployment, the death of a parent, moving, illness, and financial problems bring on stress, as do other things. Most people handle stress without resorting to violence. To some, however, stress can be a prelude to violence, especially when combined with other factors. Raising children produces stress. As a result, the likelihood of child abuse may increase with the size of the family. Children may bring an increase in spouse abuse as well, as sometimes it is conflict over children which is most likely to lead a couple to blows.
Culture and Tradition
In many lands, the man is considered to have the right to treat his wife like a mere object, just another piece of his property. His control and dominance of his wife are taken as a measure of his manliness and honour. The man is superior, and the woman inferior; she must render total obedience to him regardless of how dishonourable, violent, perverted, or selfish he is.
Low Self Esteem
Some wife beaters suffer from low self-esteem, the same trait they induce in their victims. If they can do that, then their ego will have been fed, and they will feel a measure of superiority and control over another human. They feel that they prove their masculinity in this way. Conversely, a man of strong moral character would show consideration and compassion for weaker and more defenceless ones, not take advantage of them. Another demonstration of the unreasonable thinking of the abuser is the fact that he often blames his wife for provoking the beatings.
Alcohol
Alcohol decreases control and raises the potential for acting on impulse. Often a person is able to maintain control of violent emotions when he is sober. However, alcohol impairs a person’s ability to retain self-control which can lead to abuse. The alcohol has dulled his wits and diminished his ability to control his temper.
Television
Since many children are exposed to thousands of hours of television with countless acts of violence, rape, and degradation of other humans, particularly women, it is no wonder that many grow up to act out those very antisocial traits on others
These are only a few causes of domestic violence. It is important to understand the causes of a problem in order to get to the root before offering solutions. There are other causes that can be added. We encourage further research.
