Understanding Violence - Essay Example

Q5. Discuss violence in a space of socialization of your choice e.g. Family, school, prison and identify the variables which most explain the violence This paper focuses on violence in the family and concerns itself with violence prevalent in close interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal violence can be split into family and intimate partner violence as well as community violence. Family and intimate partner violence encompass child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, sibling’s violence, and elder abuse. This paper analyses the above stated types of violence within the family and uses the categories of violence (physical, sexual, psychological, and neglect) as the background. Introduction Violence refers to the deliberate use of physical force or power, whether threatened or real, against an individual, group or community. Violence has the potential of resulting in physical injury, death, psychological illness, low growth and development, as well as deficiency. One of the common approaches adopted in the understanding of violence is the formulation of a typology, which categorises violence into physical, sexual, psychological, and deprivation. Family violence is a serious social problem that confronts the society of today. Family violence diffuses geographical, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic barriers. Family violence refers to any conduct by a person whether actual or threatened, towards the property of, or the person of a family member which the member to sensibly fear or be anxious about his/her wellbeing. Family violence characteristically involves fear, harm, intimidation, and emotional deprivation. Similarly, this may also incorporate verbal abuse, threats, harassment, and controls of behaviours of other members (Ammerman and Hersen 2000, p.4). Explanations for Family Violence There exists an array of explanations for family violence, namely: biologic/organic, psychopathological, family systems, social learning, and feminist. Biologic Approach The applicability of biologic theories on the field of family violence is controversial. The propositions advanced by this approach in the field of family violence have limited support owing to weak empirical evidence. Biological theories explanations on family violence are based from analysis of physiological arousal and neurological assessments of the perpetrators (Karstadt and Elsner 2009, p.4). One of the explanations provided by biological theorists on the causes of family violence is the gene-based explanation. This approach holds that women abuse arises from a male’s preservation tactic, activated when right circumstances presents themselves such as when the man feel threatened that his mate could draw and maintain a better partner. Researchers maintain that, even though biological factors do play some part in perpetuating family violence, they cannot solely explain the phenomenon unless it is integrated with other non-biological factors. Psychopathology Approach Psychopathology approach borrows heavily from biological theories but elevates psychodynamic variables over organic variables. This approach places a lot of emphasis on childhood as well as other events that shape people to become perpetrators of violence. This approach explains that family violence may arise from a combination of other interpersonal problems on top of functional deficits manifested in non-family settings. Karstadt and Elsner (2009, p.6) observe that, some of the surveys conducted on psychiatrist diagnoses such as borderline and anti-social personalities indicate that those who exhibit the features have a higher inclination to family violence. Psychopathology places immense emphasis on the importance of understanding historical origins of current behaviour so as to gain some footing in intervention. This contradicts the widely held notion, which interprets male violence as merely power and control driven whereby the society strengthens the behaviour. Systems Approach System theorists pay attention to the numerous and nested systems that people live in. The focus is not solely the family but other aspects as well, such as culture, religion, and the community. This approach views the family as a lively organization constituting interdependent components, whereby the behaviour of a member, as well as repetition of that behaviour, may be affected by the perceptions and feedback of other members (Karstadt & Elsner 2009, p 6). In order to understand family violence, researchers must probe the communication and problem solving skills of couples who may be perpetrators or victims of violence. Interventions on the violence must involve all parties since each has an influence and part to play. The relationship variables take centre stage in analyzing family violence. The strength of system approach lies in accommodating female-to –male violence and child abuse. This is informed by the fact that the rest of approach is biased towards male violence. Social Learning Approach This approach holds that, through observing significant others, children are able to learn appropriate and inappropriate behaviours depending on how the behaviours are reinforced. Desired behaviours in society draw approval while inappropriate behaviours attract negative sanctions. The prevailing social norms and values exhibited by individuals and groups affect the child’s behaviour and interpersonal relations (Gilligan 1997, p.273). When inappropriate behaviours are modelled for children, they may remain ingrained in the child’s life. Consequently, the chid may imitate the behaviour in other social interactions. Interventions are grounded in efforts to thwart exposure of children to undesirable role models to mitigate adverse behaviours taking root. Empirical studies on this approach indicate that increased rates of family violence are perpetrated by men who were exposed to violence during their childhood. Feminist Approach Whereas a concise feminist approach to family violence does not exist, ideas advanced by feminists can be of much help in explaining family violence. This approach takes issue with the social norms and attitudes, laws and policies that violates women’s equality to men. Feminism concentrates on power imbalances that generate and propagate violence against women. These imbalances are widespread within many levels of society (Karstadt & Elsner 2009, p 7). Feminists fault the prevailing structures within patriarchal society, which restrains women’s participation in social, economic, and political systems of society. The imbalances within the society are replicated in the family, where men wield power and control over women. This in turn, perpetuates violence against women. Variables that Explain Violence in Families Family violence is influenced by a multiplicity of factors such as societal factors, individual, and family characteristics (Pearce 2006, p.30). Some of the variables that influence family violence include age, gender, socioeconomic conditions, and family demographics. For instance, family violence is more prominent in large families as opposed to small ones. The prevailing social norms and attitudes on gender affect the dynamics of relationships within families. In some societies, family violence is somewhat a socially accepted norm. Social and demographic characteristics affect risk groups exposure to family violence. The prevailing environment within families such as family openness, which has a bearing on self-esteem, also affects predisposition to violence within families. The existing characteristics within families such as poverty, male identity, and gender roles affect onset of family violence. Other borderline factors include alcohol consumption and drug abuse. Types of Family Violence Child maltreatment Child maltreatment covers all types of physical and emotional abuse, sexual maltreatment, neglect and exploitation that harm the child’s health, development or dignity (De Zulueta 2006, p.8). Child maltreatment can be categorised into five subtypes, namely: physical abuse, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, emotional abuse, and exploitation. Child abuse is more pronounced because the relationship between children and their parents is more dependent. Parents may abuse their power and cause violence among children, by using threats, intimidation, and neglect. Stanko (2003, p.8) concludes that the severity of child maltreatment is strongly felt among young children, who may experience growth and sometimes learning problems. Physical abuse includes acts such as pinching, shaking, hitting, and burning. Emotional abuse, on the other hand, involves doing or otherwise saying things that may cause the child to think and feel despised, unwanted, insecure, or valueless. Emotional abuse stems from such acts as shouting to the child, disregarding the child and not giving affection and support. Emotional abuse may herald trauma and other psychological problems in the child. Sexual abuse among children refers to sexual contact involving an adult and a child. Sexual abuse incorporates acts such as exposing pornographic material to the child, incest, or even rape. Child sexual abuse is a complex form of abuse because it arouses guilt, shame, and stigma within the victims. Neglect presents itself when the family denies the child basic needs such as clothing, shelter, education, medical care, and safety (Barker 2005, p.121). Siblings Abuse Sibling abuse refers to patterns of repeated physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Sibling violence is much pronounced in situations where the parents are emotionally absent. Physical abuse is manifested through mild forms of aggression such as pushing to more violent forms such as striking using objects. This form of violence within families is often ignored as parents think that the behaviour is normal and okay among siblings (Hines and Morrison 2005, p.9). This stems from the fact that a thin line demarcates sibling abuse from sibling rivalry. Some of the risk factors that contribute to sibling abuse include low supervision by parents, weak skills in conflict resolution, children exposure to violence in the media, family, or among peers, victimization by parents, and improper role allocation. Sibling violence leads to the victim feeling helpless and intimidated since the channels for resolving the violence are usually few. This results to building up of trauma, anxiety, and depression (Gerhardt 2004, p.135). Intimate Partner Violence Domestic violence incorporates physical, sexual, economic, and psychological violence committed by a partner in romantic relationships, whether in heterosexual or homosexual relationships (Hasselt, Morrison, Bellack and Hersen 1988, p.120). This violence involves one partner using the above means to gain control over the other. This violence may be perpetrated at different phases of the relationship i.e. either during dating, cohabitation or marriage. The ages of the perpetrators may also vary, from adolescents to older adulthood. One of the outstanding characteristics of intimate partner violence that paints it differently from the rest is that the relationship ought to be equal. Intimate violence is affected by societal perception of what constitutes violence. The victims and the perpetrators of the violence minimize and in other cases deny the magnitude of the violence. Physical violence comprise acts of assault such as murder, slapping, pushing, choking, breaking or throwing objects, arm-twisting, and pushing to ground. Sexual violence is minimally discussed as well addressed owing to discomfort associated the topic of sexuality. Research on this topic points to the fact many of the acts of sexual aggression occur in tandem with physical violence. Sexual abuse refers to behaviours that use sex to dominate or humiliate the victim. Acts of sexual violence encompasses intimidation of the victim to engage in sexual practices that he/she does not want to engage in, such as forced intercourse and forced prostitution. Sexual violence is tied to both physical and psychological violence since many of the partners use intimidation and coercion in a bid to engage their companion in sexual activity (Barker 2005, p.44). Psychological violence ranges from explicit to the concealed. Verbal, emotional, mental abuse embraces usage of words to criticize, degrade, or humiliate the victim. Psychological violence manifests itself in various forms, namely: using coercion and threats, intimidation, and isolation. Other forms of domestic violence include economic or financial abuse, which is expressed as a limitation of the victim’s financial freedom or security. Stalking, on the other hand, involves a repeated harassment and threatening behaviour whereby the perpetrator show up at the victim’s home or workplace uninvited. Elder Violence Elder abuses can be defined as singly occurring, or repetitive acts that transpire within familial relationships where there is an expectation of trust. Elder abuse results to harm or distress to the older person. Elder abuses manifest themselves in different forms such as physical, psychological/emotional, sexual, as well as financial (Stanko 2003, p.14). Elder abuse may result from premeditated and unintentional acts that violate the wellbeing of elders. Previously, elder abuse was not given much recognition as a social problem. Elder abuse, which is often overlooked, results to hurt or loss to the older person. This abuse can be classified into physical abuse where physical force is employed to cause pain, bodily injury, and sometimes mutilation. Elder violence encompasses acts such as assault and battery. Sexual abuse results from a non-consensual sexual contact with an older person. Domestic violence, on the other hand, covers spiraled patterns of violence by an intimate partner (De Zulueta 2006, p.40). Psychological abuse represents intentional inflictions of mental and emotional distress to older people. This is undertaken through threats, humiliation, and intimidation. Financial abuse results from unlawful appropriation of an older person’s funds, property, or resources. Lastly, neglect manifests from failure by the caregivers to carry out their duties to the older people (De Zulueta 2006, p.42). Sometimes elder abuse results from cases where the perpetrator has faced family violence before. In other instances, the perpetrator may be experiencing personal problems such as alcoholism, financial difficulties, or emotional disorders. Conclusion People should gain an understanding on the causes of violence in families so as gain insight on how it can be prevented, foreseen, and resolved. Early interventions are necessary to pre-empt children’s exposure to violence in families. This is because children may mimic the violence later in life. The significant determination should be discontinuing the cycle of intergenerational diffusion of violence. Unmasking the degrees of risk and exposure to violence in families is vital. There is also a need to address power imbalances that are evident in violent relationships. There is also an urgent need to reduce the level of desensitization that is prevalent in families. This is because most of the victims, as well as perpetrators, have a limited perception of acts of violence. Gaining a broad knowledge on the types, severity, and frequency of family violence is also essential. Reference List Ammerman, T & Hersen, M 2000, Case studies in family violence, New York, Plenum Press. p. 4. Barker, G 2005, Dying to be men: Youth, masculinity and social exclusion, London: Routledge. p. 121. De Zulueta, F 2006, From pain to violence: The traumatic roots of destructiveness, London, John Wiley & Sons. p. 2-52. Gerhardt, S 2009, Why love matters: How affection shapes a baby’s brain, East Sussex, Routledge. p. 135. Gilligan, J 1997, Reflections on a national epidemic: Violence, New York, Vintage Books. p. 273. Hines, A & Morrison, M 2005, Family Violence in the United States: Defining, understanding, and combating abuse, London, Sage. p. 8-15. Hasselt, V, Morrison, L Bellack, S & Hersen, M 1988, Handbook of family violence, New York, Plenum Press. p. 120. Karstadt, S & Elsner, M 2009, Is a general theory of violence possible? International Journal of Conflict and Violence 3(1), pp. 4-8. Pearce, J 2006, Bringing violence ‘back home’: Gender socialization and the transmission of violence through time and space, Global Civil Society Yearbook, London, LSE. p. 30. Stanko, E 2003, Introduction: Conceptualising the meanings of violence, London, Routledge. p. 1-15. Read More