Define domestic violence

It refers to violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent
abuse of a spouse or partner based on power and control. Domestic violence can happen to
anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic
violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Domestic
violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate
partners who are married, living together, dating, or share a child.

Domestic violence not only affects those who are abused, but also has a substantial effect on
family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and the community at large. Children,
who grow up witnessing domestic violence, are among those seriously affected by this crime.
Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes children to numerous social
and physical problems, but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life - therefore,
increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers.

Tactics used in domestic violence

1. Isolate the Victim

Isolation is one of the greatest tools a perpetrator of domestic violence can use against a
victim. A perpetrator will often cut the victim off from supportive family and friends,
isolating him or her from society. The perpetrator’s reasons for doing so might be “out of
love” or because they “want to be with you all the time.”

2. Use the Children

Female victims of domestic violence live in households with children 12 years old and
younger. In a domestic violence situation involving children, an abuser might use the children
to harm or control the victim. For example, a batterer might threaten to harm the children if
the victim doesn’t do as he or she says.
3. Damage Property and Attack Pets
It is common for a domestic violence abuser to take out his or her aggression on property or
pets as a means of controlling or intimidating the victim. A batterer might punch holes
through walls, destroy property the victim loves, throw objects at the victim, or pound on
tables – then say something such as, “Look at what you made me do.” This is a method of
controlling the victim and teaching the victim that his/her actions directly caused the violent
reaction. An abuser might also threaten to harm, or kill pets as a way to harass or threaten a
victim.
4. Stalk the Victim
Stalking is a form of harassment that often goes hand-in-hand with domestic violence.
Abusers may become obsessed with controlling their victims; so much so that they take to
stalking, spying on, and following the victim’s every move. An abuser might do this as a way
to threaten, scare, or intimidate the victim. Stalking may also be a means to find out if the
victim is doing anything the abuser doesn’t want him or her to, such as talking with friends
and family, going online to research domestic violence, or calling someone for help.

Causes of domestic violence and societal response

1. Mental problems

Women who are victims of severe physical abuse are likely to suffer from mental illness. The
illnesses included anxiety, depression, alcoholism and drug dependence, antisocial
personality disorder, and schizophrenia.

2. Poverty and unemployment

People in dire financial straits are more likely to be involved in domestic violence. Half of
homeless women and children are victims of domestic violence. One major cause of this
correlation is the fact that abuse victims in poverty often lack the means to escape the
situation.

They may not have access to legal help or be able to afford their own housing. Abusers
usually take steps to keep their victims in poverty as well. For example, an abuser may
sabotage a job opportunity for their victim in order to keep the victim dependent on the
abuser.

3. Education

Around the world, education makes a huge difference in the rates of causes of family
violence. Each additional year of schooling is associated with an increase in awareness and a
woman’s ability to ward off unwanted sexual advances.
Women with some secondary education lower their risk of domestic violence. This is
possible because women with more education are more likely to see themselves as equal to
their abusers and to have the means to secure their independence and avoid any factors of
family violence

4. Young parents

Parenting at a young age when the person is yet to learn the skills can lead to-

 aggression
 anger
 frustration, and
 depression.

This is possibly tied to other factors because young parents are more likely to be single,
struggling economically, or have lower educational achievement. When you ask what causes
domestic violence, this factor is a leading contributor.

5. Relationship retention behavior

Retention and complex behaviors are one of the prime causes of gender based violence in
modern society.

One of the causes of domestic violence in relationships is the thought process that violence
can help save marriage. Many partners resort to domestic violence in marriage because they
think this is the only way to retain their partner.

Any threat to the relationship motivates the spouse to devise such retention strategies. Such
behaviors, although wrong, are meant to explicitly or implicitly aim at maintaining the bond.

However, such treatment, intimidation, or verbal abuse contributes to the causes of domestic
violence in relationships. It, thereby, leads to marriage separation or divorce.

6. Historical factors

Freedom for women and respective equality is still a matter of debate and is being fought for.
So, the change of mindset is bound to take time.
Society was male dominant in earlier times. So, even if the situation of patriarchy and male
dominance doesn’t exist in all pockets of society, it is not entirely possible to eradicate one of
the biggest causes of domestic violence in relationships all at once.

As a result, the superiority complex and the inherent evil of chauvinism act as one of the
major causes of domestic violence in relationships.

7. Cultural factors

When two people from different cultures decide to be wedded, it is not necessary that they
both are acquainted with the differences in the culture. It might seem exciting at first, but
with time, cultural differences can be one of the common causes of domestic violence in
relationships.

What might seem appropriate to one culture could be looked down upon in another. And this
will create one of the significant causes of family violence.

If couples do not adopt cultural differences with a conscious approach, this can lead to
domestic violence causes. It can ultimately put the future in question.

Effects of domestic violence on education

1. The results show that domestic violence causes bitterness among students-
battered student doesn't participate much in class and doesn't go to school very
often.
2. Domestic violence affects students' attention, attending, participation, and focus in
the classroom.
3. Also, student's grades are not good in the end of term exams and interfere with
their capability to depend on themselves to accomplish assignments and pass
examinations.
4. Domestic violence also causes a detrimental impact on students' emotional,
psychological, and physical well-being.

Generally, the acts of child abuse has an impact on a child's academic performance
also by reducing cognitive capacity, sleep disturbance (causing poor concentration),
difficulties in memory, language delays, understanding, and expression.