Domestic violence, also known as domestic violence, is that type of violence exerted by any member of the family on one or more of the other members. This is one of the current violent phenomena with great prevalence today in its different manifestations (violence against partners, children, grandparents, even against parents). That is why it is necessary to address it socially, politically and legally in a serious, committed and appropriate manner to reduce such a social scourge to a minimum.
In the following Psychology-Online article we will talk about the great breadth of the term domestic violence: what it is, causes and how to prevent it.
What is domestic violence
Domestic violence has been commonly called domestic violence and refers to all types of violence exercised by one of the family members on one or more members, causing terrible physical, psychological and emotional consequences.
Domestic violence includes the following types of violence:
- Violence in the couple.
- Violence towards children.
- Violence towards grandparents.
- Violence of children towards parents.
Therefore, this is a very generalized concept that includes all gender violence, child abuse, as well as abuse against the elderly and violence carried out by children against their own parents. However, the manifestations, causes and ways to prevent it require very different laws and prevention and protection measures, so perhaps it would be advisable to address them separately.
This type of violence It can occur both within the family environment and outside of it., from the very beginning of the creation of the family, including courtship, to moments after separation, as is the case of current gender violence, and including physical, sexual, psychological or emotional, economic, cybernetic, etc Here you will find others.
Causes of domestic violence
As we have mentioned in the previous section, domestic violence is a very broad concept that encompasses various types of violence and aggression against different social groups within the family environment. Therefore, the causes and ways to address these problems will require more specific treatments.
In the following section we will detail the main causes that generally lead to the various types of domestic violence, specifying the differential aspects in each case:
- The presence of certain personality characteristicssuch as impulsiveness, rigidity, authoritarianism, lack of empathy, mistrust, low tolerance for frustration, etc.
- Injuries produced in childhood (abuse, authoritarian or neglectful parenting, etc.)
- Consumption of any type of toxic substance, antisocial behavioretc.
- Some social factors that initiate, maintain or aggravate these situations such as problems in the workplace, stress caused by task overload, economic problems, etc.
These would be the causes that, in general, would induce the different types of violence mentioned (child abuse, abuse of the elderly and abuse of children towards parents). In the latter case, we could add as the main cause paternal overprotection and the failure to establish certain limits that leads children to become little tyrants who end up mistreating their parents.
Consequences of domestic violence
The consequences produced by the different types of domestic violence are the same in all cases due to the negative effects that the humiliating treatment suffered by their family member produces on the victims. The main causes include:
- Fear, panic, anguish consequence of violent acts.
- Wounds and physical injuries which, in the worst cases, can lead to death.
- High levels of anxiety due to fear of being violated again.
- Sadness, lack of vital motivation and depression.
- Insecurity and distrust absolute before others.
- Anger, anger, resentment and aggressiveness.
- .
- Mutism, emotional blockage and learned helplessness.
How to prevent domestic violence
The best general prevention measure for all these manifestations of violence is a social reeducation of the entire society. A good educational and emotional foundation establishes the good pillars necessary to build truly free, democratic, supportive and peaceful societies whose main interaction is based on service, care and mutual help between its members.
Although this task may be an arduous task, at no time should we abandon this objective as the main and most effective driver of social change and, with this, try to include it in each and every one of the social areas in which it has room, given the different social spheres that this type of violence affects.
The social services They constitute the best tool for guidance, advice, care, prevention and protection for different victims. From here, the personal and victim care, the search for a good social support network and subjection to current laws will be our next weapons of defense.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Valdebenito, L. “Violence is bad for the family” (2015). UNICEF