Chapter 12 Family Dynamics

violence in gay and lesbian relationships

- Reluctant to report abuse, not wanting to reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity - Often seen as mutual fighting -comparable rate as to that of heterosexual -an additional form of abuse specific to same sex couples is the threat of outing

statistics on intimate/family violence

-1/4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime -teens and younger women experience the highest rate- 1 in 10 high school females -2007- 1,640 women and 700 men killed by current or former partner -2008- more than half a million females and over 100,000 men age 12 and older experienced nonfatal violence at the hands of a former partner -26% of teenage girls have been subject to verbal abuse from partner and 1/4 girls have been pressured into oral sex or sex -20% of teens in a serious relationship have been physically abused -each year more than 2 million older americans are abused and 90% of the time it is by a family member -almost 1 million parents are physically assaulted by their kids each year -prevalence of violence in same sex relationships is the same

prevalence of child maltreatment

-2010- 3.3 million referrals to child protective services involving nearly 6 million children -most reports made by professionals -over 436,000 referrals were substantiated -vary by race, african american, multi racial children and native american children -girls suffer slightly higher risk for all forms of maltreatment than do boys- 51% of victims are girls -whites made up almost half of victims -children under one have the highest rate of victimization -most common form of maltreatment is neglect. -over 80% of perpetrators of maltreatment were parents

parents as victims

-5-10% of adolescents strike their parents each year -parracide- the murder of a parents by a child- males committed 63% and females 37%, victims and offenders were primarily white, the peak age of offenders wis 14-16

the costs and consequences of intimate violence

-8 billion dollars per year- medical and mental health services -physical injury, 2x the rate of depression and 4x the rate of PTSD

Child characteristics

-a normal child who was unplanned is of the wrong sex or is born outside of marriage -an abnormal child- premature, congenital defects, illness, rates of abuse for disabled children are nearly twice as high -a difficult child who is fussy or hyperactive -young children are at higher risk

parental characteristics

-abusive parent was physically punished by his/her parents, or his father father abused his mother, -believe in corporal punishment of children -have unrealistic expectations of their children and are less understanding of age appropriate behaviors -low self esteem, poor impulse control, anxiety, and depression -marital relationship itself may not be valued by the parents -unconcerned about seriousness of child injuries -may engage in substance abuse

situational couple violence

-also called common couple violence -violence that erupts during an argument when one partner strikes the other in the heat of the moment -does not usually escalate or lead to injury or fatality

characteristics of male perpetrators

-believes in the traditional home, family, and gender role stereotypes and in the moral rightness of his violence -has low self esteem and may use violence as a means of demonstrating power or adequacy -may be sadistic, pathologically jealous, or passive aggressive and may use sex as an act of aggression -low self esteem, depression, antisocial or borderline personality traits, emotional dependency and insecurity, and heavy alcohol and drug use. being unemployed, socially isolated, and having a history of experiencing poor parenting, physical discipline, or physical or psychological abuse as a child -violent men are likely to be the target of violence either presently or in the past

which women are victimized

-black women suffer higher rates of nonlethal violence than did hispanic, white, or asian women. the rate of violence native american women experienced was more than twice the rate african american women faced -socioeconomic differences- as income increases female victimization decreases -two characteristics highly correlated with wife assault- lower socioeconomic status, marital conflict- and the inability to resolve conflict

sibling violence

-by far the most common form of family violence -40-90% of children under 18 are experiencing this -often seen as normal, harmless and socially acceptable

family characteristics

-children in single parents homes may have higher risk, lower income increased stress, -marital conflict -families experiencing high levels of stress from unemployment, serious illness, or death of a family member -the kind of quality of parent child interaction

when and why some women stay in violent relationships

-economic dependence- a woman may not perceive herself as being able to cope with economic matters. in low income families the threat of losing mans support is a real barrier to change -religious pressure- may feel the teachings of her religion require her to keep the family together, submit to her husbands will, and try harder -children's need for a father- even a father who beats a mother is better than none at all -fear of being alone- may have no meaningful relationships outside her marriage -belief in the american dream- may have accepted the myth of the perfect woman and happy household and even though her existence is not this she believes she can make it be that way -guilt, pity, shame- feels its her own fault the marriage isnt working -duty and responsibility- till death do us part -fear for her life -love- love may make one want to believe that the partner will change -cultural reasons- greater obstacle- may not speak english, take children back to country of origin, -nowhere else to go -learned helplessness- after being repeatedly abused she has low self esteem and feels she cannot control the battering.

individualistic explanations

-emphasizes how the abuser's violence is related to a personality disorder, mental or emotional illness, or alcohol or drug misuse -may be appealing to abusers because they can claim their violence as not deliberately hurtful but linked to a disorder

childrens defense fund reported the following:

-every 47 seconds a child suffers from abuse or neglect -each day, 2,479 children are abused or neglected -each day more than four children die as a result of abuse/neglect -in 2010- 1,560 children died from abuse and neglect- more than half of the cases were of children under 1.

family ecosystem

-family experiences poverty and or unemployment -socially isolated with few or no close contacts with friends or family -low level of income -unsafe neighborhood with higher than average levels of violence -home is crowded, hazardous, dirty or unhealthy

confronting child abuse

-first step in treating child abuse are finding the children who are threatened, mandatory reporting -must address this tragedy of continued abuse from a variety of levels --parents must learn how to deal more positively and effectively with their children -children need to be taught skills to recognize and report abuse -professionals working with children and families need adequate training in child abuse and neglect -agencies could coordinate their efforts for preventing and investigating abuse -public awareness of child abuse needs to be created and broadened by methods such as posters and public service announcements

the importance of gender, power, stress, and intimacy

-gender- violence by males tends to be more extreme, often has different causes, and typically results in different consequences -power- a central motive in intimate violence- especially in intimate terrorism -stress- as individuals are subjected to stress, tensions can rise, help account for a lot of violence in low income families, may raise the likelihood of violence but it is not the cause -intimacy- heightened emotions and long term commitments are qualities that lead to greater likelihood of disagreement

long term effects of sexual abuse

-higher incidences of psychological, physical, and sexual problems than the general population -feelings of betrayal, lack of trust, powerlessness, low self image, depression, lack of clear boundaries between self and others -may predispose some women to an early onset of sexual behavior, risky sexual behavior, multiple partners, and sexually abusive dating relationships -greater anxiety and less pleasure during sex -behaviors like using drugs and alcohol with sex, increasing the risk of STD -more frequent sexual encounters -may suffer flashbacks, sexual dysfunction, and negative feelings about their bodies -potential avoidance of intimate relationships

socioeconomic class

-household income had the greatest influence on intimate violence across racial and ethnic lines -abused women in higher income levels may experience unique problems like people are less sympathetic towards them and more skeptical of their allegations and less willing to help because they think they have the financial means to help themselves

abuse, intimate violence, and family violence: definitions and prevalence

-intimate partner violence/abuse-terms currently used to address the full scope of violence and/or abuse among intimate couples regardless of gender marital status or sexual orientation -other forms of family violence involving siblings or between parents and children are considered family violence

elder abuse

-more than 2 million older people are physically abused annually -neglect is the most common form -most commonly is a male perpetrator and female victim -financial abuse- coercing or deceiving an elder into signing wills, contracts, -protective factors- strong relationships with people of a different social status,

working with offenders: abuser programs

-most common intervention- combines a criminal justice response with a mandated group intervention program- effects are typically small with reoffending rates ranging from 21-35% -duluth model- multistage rehabilitative approach for batterers, which emphasizes helping batterers develop critical thinking skills around themes of nonviolence, respect, partnership, and negotiation (often have to write a responsibility letter).

Forms of Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse

-most traumatic form is father daughter sexual abuse, including step fathers- more likely to try penile penetration, abuse more frequently and more often use force

children as victims: child abuse and neglect

-not recognized as a problem until the 1960s -battered child syndrome-medical term used to describe patterns of injuries commonly found in physically abused children -child maltreatment- instances of the victimization of children from neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, ad or emotional abuse

tweens, teens, and young adults: dating violence and abuse

-one in eleven teens report being victims of physical dating violence -one in four adolescents report experiencing emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual violence each year -one in five high school females has been sexually or physically abused by a dating partner -dating violence is far more likely to be initiated due to jealousy, rejection, or center around issues of control -many teen victims stay in the relationship even after the violence occurs -those who experience dating violence are at a higher risk of health problems, including increased risk of injury, attempted suicide, binge drinking, and physical fights -higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use. more likely to engage in unsafe sexual practices so higher risk of STD and unintended pregnancy -women who have romantic opinions on jealousy and have witnessed violence with their own parents are more likely to stay after violence -women with modern gender role attitudes are more likely to leave

families at risk

-parental characteristics -child characteristics -family factors -the family ecosystem

intervention and prevention

-prevention strategies- 1. eliminate social stress 2. educate about causes costs and consequences of violence 3. strengthening parents -recommendations: --reduce societal sources of stress, poverty, racism, inequality --reduce sexism --furnish adequate day care --promote sex education and family planning to prevent unplanned pregnancies --end social isolation and explore means of establishing supportive networks -break the family cycle of violence, eliminate corporal punishment, promote education, address the cultural norms that legitiize violence

Effects of child sexual abuse

-profound long term consequences for an adults sexual behavior and intimate relationships -symptoms of PTSD -emotional disturbances such as fear anxiety guilt shame -social disturbances- running away truancy -physical consequences- changes in eating or sleeping, -sexual disturbances- open masturbation and sexual preoccupation

familial and social risk factors

-relationship factors- persistent tension, conflict, and fighting between spouses creates a context that heightens the likelihood of intimate violence -living in a place with weak sanctions against violence, where neighbors are unwilling to intervene, and where the relationships and interactions within the surrounding community are weak and infrequent, the risk of intimate violence increases

female perpetrators and male victims

-there is a conspiracy of silence that fails to recognize that family violence is never inconsequential -four reasons to take the study of female violence seriously 1. assaulting a spouse- either a wife or husband- is and intrinsic moral wrong 2. not doing so unintentionally validates cultural norms that condone a certain amount of violence between spouses 3. there is always danger of escalation, a violent act whether committed by a man or woman may lead to increased violence 4. spousal assault is a model of violent behavior for children.

sibling sexual abuse

-usually committed by an older brother on a younger sibling -the criteria of force and coercion may be the aspect most highly associated with negative outcomes regardless of the specific behavior -more common than abuse committed by an adult

female victims and male perpetrators

-vulnerability and victimization of pregnant women, 10% of females are subjected to violence during pregnancy, most women 70% who are abused before pregnancy continue to experience abuse during and violence tends to intensify after the offender learns of the woman's pregnancy -women abused during pregnancy- greater risk of miscarriage low birth weight high blood pressure vaginal bleeding and kidney or urinary tract infections

child sexual abuse

Any sexual interaction, including fondling, erotic kissing, oral sex, or genital penetration, that occurs between an adult (or older adolescent) and a prepubertal child. -between 100,000- 500,000 children are sexually abused annually. by 18 15-25% of children will have been sexually abused, more girls than boys -

mutual violent control

Both partners are trying to violently control each other

Exchange-Social Control Model

Exchange theory suggests that we weigh costs and rewards in our interactions. -expectation is that people will only use violence when the rewards outweigh the costs -three characteristics of families that may reduce those costs of violence and thus reduce social control 1. inequality- men are stronger than women 2. private nature of the family- people are reluctant to look outside the family for help and outsiders may hesitate to intervene in private matters 3. real man image- aggressive male behavior brings approval

psychological aggression

Nonphysical form of mistreatment, typically of children by parents, consisting of the following kinds of behavior: shouting; threatening to hit; cursing at one's child; threatening to send child away; or calling one's child dumb or lazy.

social learning model

People learn to be violent from society and their families -core premise is that children, especially boys, learn to become violent when they are a victim of or witnesses to violence and abuse

poly-victimization

Refers to the reality that many victims of intimate partner violence and abuse suffer from multiple forms of violence and abuse. -associated with greater trauma -consequences are worse

race

african americans have higher rates of violence than do whites hispanics, hispanics have higher rate than whites

violence

an act carried out with the intention or perceived intention of causing physical pain or injury to another person

resource model

assumes that social systems are based on force or threat of force -the person with the most resources is least likely to resort to overt force -violence occurs in all income levels but a typical situation is "a husband who wants to be the dominant person in the family but has little education, has a job low in income and prestige and lacks interpersonal skills may choose to use violence to maintain the dominant position

women and men as victims and perpetrators

battering- a violent act directed against another, such as hitting, slapping, beating, stabbing, shooting, or threatening with weapons -the number of women who report expressing and violence toward their male partners is the same or greater than the number of men who report violence against their female partners -motives and outcomes of violence differ between men and women - most violence done by women and most done by men is more situational, routine and relatively minor variety, the less common and more extreme violence is usually committed by men -mens violence tends to be instrumental- to get what they want and assert control and gain power -womens violence- self defense, retaliation, expression of anger, attention seeking, stress or frustration, jealousy, depression, loss of self control -misogynistic idea that women need to be put in their place by men has been a cultural justification of abuse -more females are injured than men,

intrafamilial sexual abuse

child sexual abuse that is perpetrated by related individuals, including step-relatives

extra-familial sexual abuse

conducted by non related individuals

date rape and coercive sex

date rape or acquaintance rape- rape in which the assailant is personally known to the victim, usually in the context of a dating relationship -date rape was considered less serious when the victim was african american -not usually planned, - he plans a date with the intent of having sex and when his date does not comply he takes what he thinks is his right- sex -alcohol and drugs are often involved, date rape drugs- roofies, reduce inhibitions and affect memory

children at risk for sexual abuse

girls make up 70-89% of abuse survivors -more of the abuse that boys experience is extra-familial. -lower income children at greater risk -males are more common perpetrators -higher risk to children who have poor relationships with their parents or whose parents are absent or unavailable and have high levels of marital conflict - children with step fathers are at a greater risk -

abuse

includes neglect, emotional abuse, verbal abuse- can occur without any physical violenced

intimate partner violence and the law

mandatory arrest policies- requires police who respond to a report of domestic violence to make an arrest if they determine that an incident of domestic abuse has occurred -no-drop prosecution- requires prosecutors to proceed in prosecuting a case of alleged intimate violence as long as the evidence exists, regardless of the expressed wishes of the victim -may cause victims not to report because they dont want the offender arrested

intimate terrorism

one partner tries to dominate and control the other -two common traits- violent episodes that escalate and emotional abuse -victims are left demoralized and trapped- sense of self is greatly diminished by partner - violence is likely to recur, escalate, and lead to injury -less likely to be mutual but can be transmitted intergenerationally

marital and intimate partner rape

rape- a form of battering inflicted by an intimate partner, often as parts of intimate terrorism. unwanted sexual penetration, perpetrated by force, threat of harm, or when the victim is intoxicated -almost 8 million women have been raped by a partner at some point in their lives

prevalence of intimate violence

rate of intimate violence ranges from 17-39% -roughly 1 out of 5 couples in the general population report having experiences partner violence -between 2001-2005 22% of nonfatal violent victimizations of females over 12 were committed by intimate partners -30% of homicides committed against females and 5% against males were committed by intimate partners -30% of female murder victims and 5% of males murder victims were likely killed by an intimate

confronting elder abuse

recommend the following services for elders and their caregiving families -housing services, including temporary respite care to give caregivers a break and permanent housing -health services, including home health care, adult day care centers, and OT,PT and speech therapy -housekeeping services, including shopping and meal prep -support services, visitor programs and recreation -guardianship and financial management

violent resistance

refers to violence used to resist intimate terrorism -can be self defense but can alsp function primarily as an expression of anger or resistance even if the resistor expects that it may actually provoke greater violence from a controlling partner

feminist model

stresses the role of gender inequalities, gendered power and powerlessness, and cultural concepts of masculinity as causes of violence -does not explain the variations in degree of violence among families in the same society

traumatic sexualization

the process of developing inappropriate or dysfunctional sexual attitudes, behaviors, and feelings by a sexually abused child

gender symmetry

the similarity in survey estimates of male-on-female and female-on-male intimate partner violence -intimate terrorism usually by men and violent resistance usually by women

Ecological Model

uses a systems perspective to explore child abuse -cultural approval of corporal punishment combines with lack of community support for the family to increase the risk of violence in families -under this model children that dont match well with their parents, families under stress and that have little support can be at increased risk for child abuse

social stress model

views family violence as arising from two main factors 1. structural stress such as low income or illness 2. cultural norms such as the spare the rod and spoil the child ethic

emotional and psychological abuse

women much more likely to experience than men