Social Stressors and Family History- Domestic Violence

Social Stressors and Family History- Domestic Violence

According to family systems theory, a child who grows up in a family experiencing domestic violence can either learn to be a victimizer or a victim (Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand, 2019). According to Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand (2019), male children in such homes learn to be offenders as they develop a pecking-order attitude towards domestic violence. In this case, one is beaten when they are young, and when they grow up, they repeat the behavior. On the contrary, female children learn to be domestic violence victims in their marriages. However, this is not a guarantee because people make and can choose to make positive life-affirming choices.

Some of the social stressors are tough economic times, alcohol, isolation, and financial dependency. Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand (2019) write that although domestic violence may happen at every income level, economic distress can increase the potential of domestic violence. Low-income families are more vulnerable to spouse abuse, and unemployed men are more likely to beat their spouses. In addition, it is found that, more often than not, domestic abusers feel alone, isolated, and far removed from relatives, friends, and neighbors. Since they may lack a social support network during distress, they are more likely to engage in domestic violence (Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand, 2019). Statistics have shown that most abusers are also drug abusers. According to Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand (2019), alcohol facilitates violence because it assists the abuser in breaking their inhibitions. Alcohol intake and drug usage, isolation, economic distress, and financial dependency can be controlled.

Although one cannot control the families they are born into, the children born and raised in a violent domestic home can be helped by professionals who know how to create a safe environment so that the children feel safe to open up. According to Callaghan et al. (2017), the professionals who work with young people and children must establish open communication lines where there are no boundaries and help children and young people know the consequences of their disclosures, limitations, and boundaries. In the U.S., the child welfare policy has stipulated reporting of any offenses against children at home, even by neighbors. Therefore, neighbors can report these cases to child services to help them.

References

Callaghan, J. E. M., Fellin, L. C., Mavrou, S., Alexander, J., & Sixsmith, J. (2017). The management of disclosure in children’s accounts of domestic violence: Practices of telling and not telling. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(12), 3370-3387.

Olson, D.H., DeFrain, J. & Skogrand, L. (2019). Marriages and Families: Intimacy, Diversity, and Strengths, Ninth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

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How are social stressors and family history associated with domestic violence? Which of those elements can be controlled?

Social Stressors and Family History- D

Of the elements that cannot be controlled, how can they be managed?