Domestic violence — which can take the form of physical, sexual, psychological, and financial abuse, and very often involves multiple forms of victimization — is shockingly common.
If that took you a minute to read, an estimated 20 people will have been physically abused since you clicked on this article, and will still be suffering as you read this. And that's just in the US.
Though people of all ages, socioeconomic groups, genders, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations, can fall victim to intimate partner violence, research strongly shows that those who are already marginalized are more likely to face domestic abuse and to be unable to escape it.
Most victims don't seek help, and don't see a way to get out. Too many only escape in death, whether to murder or suicide.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the whole globe to unprecedented levels of stress, domestic violence has only become a growing problem. One study called it a "pandemic within a pandemic", highlighting the terrifying fact that COVID-19 lockdowns simultaneously lead to an increased risk of intimate partner violence and block off avenues for escape.
If domestic violence is a pandemic, what can we learn from that parallel? Yes, the world collectively holds its breath for a COVID-19 vaccine. We've also learned, over the last year, how important prevention is. We reduce our risk of contracting a coronavirus infection by sticking to social distancing measures, washing our hands frequently and properly, and wearing face masks.
Can domestic violence also be prevented? If so, how?
What cause domestic violence?
A set of different theories that all explain the possible causes of domestic violence, some complementary, exist:
- Some researchers believe that biological variations cause people to perpetrate domestic violence. Head injuries, trauma-fueled brain changes, biochemistry, and genetics have all been held up as possible explanations.
- Some think that mental health disorders, often triggered by early childhood experiences, are the cause. Someone who is unable to regulate their emotions is less likely to suppress any violent urges they may have. Someone who doesn't believe they have a right to safety and security may be more likely to become a victim.
- Others believe that relationship patterns observed during early childhood lead to domestic violence — people who witnessed intimate partner violence (often between their parents) as children have a higher risk of becoming either a victim or a perpetrator as adult.
- Yet others have come to the conclusion that intimate partner violence, and domestic violence in general, are reflections of society at large. As men dominate women in society, so they may dominate in households.
Most likely, the causes of intimate partner violence can be found in a combination of all these theories. While some of them, like biology, cannot be changed, others, like healthy relationship modeling, are very much modifiable. That's where prevention comes in.
Can we prevent domestic violence before it happens?
Maybe. While schools teach things like reading, writing, mathematics, and geography, children's emotional development is still largely seen as a private matter. Kids are, somehow, simply expected to pick up how to interact with other humans in an emotionally healthy and safe way by themselves, along the way. Not all children will, however, have the role models they need to achieve that.
Several studies suggest, along with the CDC, that kids should be taught how to have healthy emotional relationships. As obvious as it sounds in this day and age, the idea that women are equal human beings should be part of the curriculum in a world where females are still much more likely to be abused by a partner.
If children are taught how to cope with stress in a productive way, shown how to communicate effectively, and informed about consent and rights, we'll at the very least see increased awareness in society. Potential victims might be able to identify warning signs of violence earlier, and feel more confident about seeking help early on. Fewer people may see violence as an option.
In adults, national domestic violence awareness programs — exactly like Domestic Violence Awareness Month — serve a similar purpose, and preliminary research shows that raising awareness does have a positive impact.
These preventative efforts, which focus on education, are called primary prevention. Secondary prevention would be aimed at children and adults already at risk of experiencing or perpetrating domestic violence. The goal, here, is to increase societal support. Both education and practical resources, like counseling, financial support, and home visitation in households with children, play a role.
The final line of defense against domestic violence lies in tertiary prevention. In this area, children who have already witnessed domestic violence may be counseled intensively (thereby reducing the odds they'll become victims or perpetrators later on), victims and perpetrators would be offered services to break the cycle, and where appropriate, police and other services would heavily be involved in monitoring.
A final word
Domestic violence has always, and everywhere, thrived in secrecy. It often takes place behind closed doors. Even if people in the community suspect what's going on, open conversations are rare. Escaping domestic violence is very rarely as easy as "just leave!", especially for a victim who depends on their partner financially and socially, and who may lose fear losing custody of minor children if they attempt to get out.
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