Altruism_in_Society

Domestic Violence xxxxxxxxx PSY/400 Social Psychology xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx Domestic Violence is one of the leading causes of deaths in women each year. While the death rate is staggering, the social, and financial effects are just as disturbing. However, by working to involve families in activities, which create cohesion amidst family units, such as Fun Family Dinners, may prevent some cases. Although prevention is not always an option for families, intervention can help. Help-lines and counselors provide women the necessary tools to improve an unhealthy situation. Nature and History of Domestic Violence Domestic violence, defined as any mode of abuse, force, duress, restraint, threat, or menace committed by a current or past significant other; with the intention of controlling, and harming the physical and emotional well-being of an individual. Such violence occurs under unequal circumstances, disabling the victims privilege. Domestic violence displays abnormal behavior patterns. Within relationships, domestic violence is experienced when one partner exudes force against the other to intimidate, manipulate, and create fear. The purpose for manipulation, and intimidation is to seize power of the other partner, and perhaps to attain situational control. The fear ensures the loss of self-esteem, and courage to flee. Victims span from women, men, children. However; the largest group of victims are women. Historically domestic violence against women was tolerated, and in some areas promoted. For example Ancient Roman laws allowed husbands to divorce, physically punish, or even kill wives for behaviors permitted to men. Such punishment was considered behavioral correction. Under medieval English common law, a husband could not be prosecuted for raping his wife because a wife could not refuse sexual consent to her husband. Because much of the U.S. Law was modeled on these common laws, the U.S. rape definition remained active until the 1970's, when many (but not all) states modified their statutes (SCCADVASA, 2011). Upon the modification of these statutes, and the evolution of women’s rights; domestic abuse was prohibited, still lightly enforced. Assault and battery laws vary between the assault of a stranger, and a wife. For a husband to be guilty against his wife, he must harm her more than he would a stranger,(e.g., striking with horrific force when hitting). Societal Effects Johns Hopkins School of Public Health documented domestic violence prevalence Through 50 population-based surveys, and found that one in every three women worldwide experienced physical abuse and rape. Amid these women between 10% and 50% stated the physical abuse was committed by an intimate male partner, and 60% reported the incidents as repeated. One-third to over one-half of the women further reported the physical abuse coincided with psychological and sexual abuse (The Ripple Effect, 2008). Domestic violence also contributes to astoundingly high morbidity, mortality, and homelessness rates. four million women per year encounter extreme domestic violence. Victims experience broken bones, miscarriages, still births, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, paralysis, deafness, and blindness from abuse; resulting in 21,000 hospitalizations, 99,800 inpatient days, 28,700 emergency room visits, and 39,000 medical office visits (Loring & Smith, 1994). In 1994, more than 1300 women were murdered by their husbands or boyfriends (U.S. Department of Justice, 1995). six out of every 10 female murder victims in America are killed by someone they know, half by spouses (Kellerman & Mercy, 1992). ` The financial effects upon society are phenomenal, with an excessive $44 million for medical treatment (Loring and Smith, 1994). 50% of homeless women and children in one county were fleeing abusive homes (Burstein & Woodsmall, 1987). Total costs an estimated $96 billion. Other financial reflections are found amongst employers. Employee productivity loses $476 per employee per incident experienced. The loss per homicide an estimated $610,000. Another effect upon employers is their liability for negligence when failing to offer proactive protection toward employees as well as coworkers whom are endangered by perpetrators appearing on site at work places. Incidence of Domestic Violence An estimate of the number of domestic violence incidents is difficult because many cases go unreported. Domestic violence is one of the most under-reported crimes in the United States (Denhem, 1995). More than 3,000 women die each year, at the hands of men who claim to love them. This is more than women dying from automobile accidents, rapes, and muggings combined (Bicehouse, 1995). At every age of the lifespan, women are more likely to be killed or assaulted by someone well known. According to a representative at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, these numbers are rising at an alarming rate. Some blame the impact on the stressors caused by the current economic crises. Psychologists, Social workers, and others involved in trying to help these victims find a path to a better life; realize if they are not helped in some way,violence may escalate; unfortunately cycling repeatedly. Our campaign demonstrates two elements of persuasion in the hopes that families will take notice and actually begin to believe in life change. Elements of Persuasion Our campaign committs to offering “Fun Family Dinners” three nights a week at the local community center. Food will be provided by local donations, and our campaign group has scheduled volunteers from the community for meal preparation and clean-up. Donors can make an anonymous donation, in a sealed envelope upon entering the dinner. Our goal initial goal is to gather the families for a healthy meal, and opportunity to socialize. The idea of an anonymous sealed donation is to prevent embarrassment regarding financial situations. We plan to have volunteer psychologists, social workers, and counselors attend to observe interactions and assess for signs of domestic abuse. Monday nights will be family nights having dinner together. Wednesday nights the children will have a “Special Dinnertime” with local entertainment. On Friday nights, the men, and women (as well as the children) will have separate dinner rooms with guest speakers invited. The guest speakers will be selected to meet the specific needs of the audience, which they are addressing. For example the children will have puppet shows encouraging participation from them, the audience. The educators performing the puppet shows will be monitoring for any children with signs of abuse or bullying. The women and men will have speakers geared toward increasing self-worth and self-esteem, and the signs of withdrawal from their children. These speakers will be professionally trained family counselors,with expertise in domestic abuse history. Thus, allowing potential abusers to stand out, and either request, or accept the help they need. Any actions required further will be put into effect with police involvement if necessary. Justifications for the Elements of Persuasion Our campaign will be a collaborative effort coordinating with designated professionals, whose goal is to help struggling families. If we can create family cohesion we may keep some single mothers from struggling with daycare, nutrition, and shelter. This would save money within government assistance programs experiencing threats of downsizing. If our efforts result in just one family member, whether it is the mother, father, or even a child standing up and saying, “I want to go to school, graduate, and contributes to society,” then our campaign efforts are not in vain. In a nutshell, if our campaign efforts can succeed in: 1) Teaching women the signs and symptoms of abuse, they may become empowered; disabling victimization, and decreasing statistic rates. 2) Teach men positive and productive coping skills in stressful situations, and make counseling readily available. If unemployment is involved offer supportive employment services. 3) allow children opportunities to discuss their feelings in a safe place with peers experiencing the same issues. The elements of persuasion mentioned in our campaign are designed to bring people together in an effort to develop, strengthen, and improve their lives. The Role of Social Exchange Theory The social exchange theory states that our social behavior is an exchange process aiming to maximize benefits and minimize costs (Myers, 2010). Increased domestic abuse results in an immense expense emotionally, and financially. The abusers if reported, are incarcerated,leaving the victims to support families alone. Unfortunately, many times the children grow up repeating such learned behaviors. We learn what we live. Therefore, money is spent on the incarcerated family member, assistance in family care, court costs, medical costs, and countless other expenses. Our campaign proposes persuading families struggling with hardships to recognize healthier and more constructive methods of coping, instead of turning to abuse or violence. Thus, maximizing benefits as evidenced by a decrease in domestic abuse and violence. The emotional costs will be minimized as evidenced by fewer individual's killed or abused by someone close. The financial costs will be minimized by less hospital visits, a decrease in police involvement, and less time, and money invested in the court systems. Prevention Parents carry an obligatory responsibility to educate children about the negative consequences and establish sensitivity toward violence and aggression. Children and young adults learn aggressive behavior through exposure. “As with most social behaviors, we acquire aggression by watching others act and noting the consequences” (Myers, 2010. p. 363). Children exposed at a young age to positive anger management and aggression direction react appropriately to stressful situations as a result of positive programming. Avoiding violent television shows and video games at any age allows the continued association of violence and negative behavior. The allowed viewing of violence and abuse on television desensitizes individuals to violent behavior and leads to aggressive children, teenagers, and adults. Viewing violence increases violent behavior because it becomes the normal reaction. The viewers become desensitized to violence, reality becomes skewed and acceptance of violence and violent behavior becomes the norm (Myers, 2010.p. 385). If children are not socialized with the acceptance of violent media but instead exposed to negativity toward violence and violent video games children will grow up associating violence and aggression with negative and unacceptable behavior. Children taught violence as a form of communication will become violent adults. Intervention When violence becomes normal behavior, prevention is no longer an option and intervention becomes necessity. Once an individual becomes less sensitive toward the negativity of violence and aggression, violence and aggression become an accepted form of communication. Negative relationship issues such as arguments, frustration, and volatile situations spark aggressive actions toward significant others and children. Anger management plays a role in thought process adjustment. Such adjustments realign stress responses and an individual’s association of aggression; increasing the negative association. Couple’s therapy provides necessary education for the aggressor and the victim. The aggressor learns triggers, boiling points, and early warning signs that cause violent behavior. Couple’s therapy can also educate the instigator in how to react in a manner that does not spark violent behavior. The reactor will learn how to cope during aggressive situations to avoid reaching the threshold of violent reactions and become educated in positive and productive actions and reactions when presented with negative situations. Large groups initiate violence on a larger scale because of the volume of influence. Groups provide a large amount of influence over an individual increasing the magnitude of violent reactions. Violent actions that occur in groups can be more violent than actions that occur on an individual basis. Because of the group mentality, the aggressor establishes a self view of being a whole unit instead of an individual. Viewing themselves as a group decreases the individual responsibility taken for actions and reactions often being more aggressive in a group environment (Myers, 2010. p. 385). Breaking away from violent groups provides an environment to increase violence sensitivity and achieve anger management support. Conclusion Domestic violence continues to be the greatest danger present in families and relationships. Overexposure to violence desensitizes the negative connotation associated with violence and aggression. A decreased sensitivity of violence establishes an acceptance of violence making aggressive reactions the norm. Assistance is available for those exposed to domestic violence and help is available for the aggressor and instigator. Outside help and planning can provide an opportunity to escape domestic violence and adjust to a healthy and happy life free of violence. References Denhem, S. (1995). Confronting the Monster of Family Violence, NursForum 30(3): 12. Bicehouse, T. & Hawker, L. Domestic Violence: Myths and Safety Issues. J Holistic Nurse 13(1):83, 1995. SCCADVASA - SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. (2011). General Overview and History of Domestic Violence. Retrieve from: http://www.sccadvasa.org/domestic-violence-facts-and-stats/overview-of-domestic-violence.html Smith, R., & Loring, M. T. (1994). The trauma of emotionally abused men. Psychology: A Journal of Human Behavior,31, 1-4 Myers, D. G. (2010). Social psychology (10th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.