Domestic Violence for Lazarus

7/28/2019 Domestic Violence for Lazarus

1/21

Domestic Violence:What Persons in Helping Professions Need to Know

Bessie Grimaldi, LCSW

Ken Murray, LCSW

Maria Carrier, LCSW

Mary Fran Davis, LCSW


2/21

Introduction: What Happens in

this House

The problem is pervasive 1.3 million women and 835,000 men report being

physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in

the United States.

92% of abused women did not discuss incidents withtheir physicians; 57% did not discuss the incidents

with anyone.

Age is a factor. Nearly half of DV occurs in couples

under 25

More than half occurs in homes with kids under age

12

86% of the women who received a protection order state

the abuse either stopped or was greatly reduced.


3/21

Agenda

Introduction Presentation

Panel discussion


4/21

Some Characteristics of

Offenders

Abusing power and control.The perpetrator's primary goal is to achieve power and control over their

intimate partner

Having different public and private behavior

Usually, people outside the immediate family are not aware of and do

not witness the perpetrator's abusive behavior.

Projecting blame

Abusers often engage in an insidious type of manipulation that involves

blaming the victim for the violent behavior.

Claiming loss of control or anger problems.

There is a common belief that domestic violence is a result of poorimpulse control or anger management problems.

Minimizing and denying the abuse.

Perpetrators rarely view themselves or their actions as violent or

abusive. As a result, they often deny, justify, and minimize their

behavior.


5/21

Profile of an Offender

Abusers differ in patterns of abuse and levels ofdangerousness. While there is not an agreed

upon universal psychological profile,

perpetrators do share a behavioral profile that is

described as "an ongoing pattern of coercivecontrol involving various forms of intimidation,

and psychological and physical abuse.

Research shows that perpetrators do not share

a set of personality characteristics or a

psychiatric diagnosis that distinguishes them

from people who are not abusive.


6/21

Identifying At-Risk Families

Studies reveal that spouse abuse is mostfrequent among young couples who have not yetdeveloped joint coping and communicationskills.

History of domestic violence (criminal or civil) The study also revealed victims tend to be

young mothers; 57% were under age 26 and18% were ages 16-20. About 78% have

children. Victims tend to be employed; 18% areactive duty service members and 42% are incivilian jobs.


7/21

At-Risk, continued

About 90% of the military abusers were enlistedmales, 69% in pay grades E4-E6.

Abusers tend to be young and newly married.

About 49% were under age 26. About 57% were

in the military less than seven years and 32%,

less than four years. About 57% were married

for less than three years.


8/21

The Profile?

Previously in an abusive relationship * Poor living situation

Unemployed/underemployed

Physical or mental disability

Recently separated or divorced *

Isolated socially from family and friends

Abused as a child


9/21

Profiling, continued

Abuses alcohol or drugs * Expecting a child, especially if the pregnancy is

unplanned *

Less than thirty years old

Witnessed abuse as a child *

Abused former partners *

Abuses pets *


10/21

Alternate Profile Slide Often have low self esteem.

Rush in to relationships

Are excessively jealous

Exhibit controlling behavior

Have unrealistic expectations or demands

Use isolation to keep you centered on them

Believe in male supremacy and the stereotyped masculine role in the family.

Use of force during sex

Have poor communication skills

Use negative behaviors (drugs, alcohol, battering) to cope with stress.

Blame others for their actions.

Are prone to hypersensitivity

Present dual personalities.

Exhibit cruelty to animals or children


11/21


12/21

Link between PTSD and Abuse

Many studies and researchers report a stronglink between a warrior's post traumatic stressdisorder and spousal abuse. As reported in theNew York Times Article, "When Strains onMilitary Families Turn Deadly," a 2006 studyprovided evidence for this link. The studyshowed that 80% of those suffering fromPTSD committed at least one domesticviolent act in the year before the study took

place; and almost half committed at least onesevere act.


13/21

Link between Alcohol Use and

Abuse A published review of 15 studies on domestic violence noted that

25% to 50% of the spouse abuse perpetrators were drinkingduring the event and that a history of alcoholism was presentamong 60 to 70% of spouse abuse perpetrators.

Alcohol was a significant risk factor for husband-to-wife assault inseven of nine studies included in a review of the literature.

A positive linear association has been found between levels of

heavy drinking and spouse abuse. 48% of binge drinkers weredrinking before an episode of violence and binge drinkers werethree times more likely to abuse their wives than abstainers.

Even when perpetrators were not drinking at the time of theevent, they often displayed symptoms of alcohol dependenceand/or alcohol abuse.

A large percentage of husbands who were spouse abusers werealso heavy or problem drinkers.


14/21

Stalking 25% of stalking victims

report being stalked

through the use ofsome

form of technology.

10% of victims report

being monitored by a

GPS system; 8% reportbeing monitored through

video or digital cameras

or listening devices.

46% experience at least

one unwanted contactper week.

2/3 of stalkers pursue their

victims at least once per

week, many daily.

78% of stalkers use more

than one means of

approach.

Intimate partner stalkers

frequently approach their

targets and their behaviors

escalate quickly.


15/21

Stalking (Femicide)

76% of intimate partner femicide victims havebeen stalked by their intimate partner.

67% had been physically abused.

89% of femicide victims who had beenphysically assaulted had also been stalked inthe 12 months before their murder.

79% of abused femicide victims reported beingstalked during the same period that they wereabused.

54% of femicide victims reported stalking to policebefore they were killed by their stalkers.


16/21

The Bottom Line

Domestic abuse feeds on secrecy

cut it off If your Spidey-Sense tingles, trust it


17/21

Community Resources

I t Kid F t d


18/21

Impact on Kids: Facts and

Statistics

An estimated 7-15 million children witnessassaults against a parent by an intimate partner

in the U.S. Journal of Family Psychology

there are only 73 million total under 18 US Census Bureau

20 million total under age 5 US Census Bureau

90% of kids in violent homes witness parental

abuse www.4children.org

Child abuse is 15xs more likely in homes wherespouse abuse exists (kids are abused orneglected 75% of the time)

75 percent of boys who witness have developedbehavioral problems


19/21

C i St t i f Y P l i H f


20/21

Coping Strategies of Young People in Homes of

Abuse

Mental blocking or disconnecting emotionally

Making it better through fantasy

Physical Avoidance

Looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong

places Taking charge through caretaking

Reaching out for help

Crying out for help

Redirecting emotions into positive activities

Trying to predict, explain or control the behaviorof the abuser


21/21

Date post:	03-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	ken-murray
View:	214 times
Download:	0 times

Domestic Violence for Lazarus

Documents