Spousal Violence Overview
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Questions and Answers

What percentage of women reported being victims of violence or mistreatment in their marriage or common law relationship in 1999?

  • 15%
  • 20%
  • 12% (correct)
  • 7%

What historical expression allowed men to use limited physical violence against their spouses?

  • Man's prerogative
  • Household code
  • Rule of thumb (correct)
  • Patriarchal duty

During which decade did the women's movement begin to significantly influence public opinion about violence against women?

  • 1950s
  • 1940s
  • 1980s
  • 1970s (correct)

What was a common societal attitude toward women who chose to leave their violent spouses?

<p>They were viewed as guilty of desertion. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to as the intergenerational cycle of violence?

<p>Adults exposed to violence as children risk repeating the cycle. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During the 20th century, police intervention in domestic violence cases was largely limited to what condition?

<p>Witnessing the assault or violence. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is often the first phase in the cycle of violence in intimate relationships?

<p>Tension-Building Phase (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What resource did women often turn to for advice regarding violence in their homes during earlier decades?

<p>Pastors or clergy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of spousal abuse?

<p>It tends to be underreported and understudied. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do feminist sociologists view the cause of spousal abuse?

<p>As a validation of male dominance in patriarchal systems. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which situation is most likely to increase the incidence of spousal abuse?

<p>The husband is unemployed while the wife is employed. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What psychological characteristics are commonly seen in abusers?

<p>Jealousy, insecurity, and immaturity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of relationship tends to have higher reported rates of spousal violence?

<p>Common-law relationships. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary predictor of spousal violence according to the content?

<p>Work-related stress and marital conflict. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who are the primary victims of spousal abuse?

<p>Women, though men and same-sex partners may also be victims. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception exists regarding spousal abuse?

<p>It is a clear-cut, easily identifiable issue. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are common characteristics of perpetrators of spousal abuse?

<p>Men with violent family histories (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'battered woman syndrome' refer to in the context of abusive relationships?

<p>A psychological condition that prevents victims from perceiving alternatives (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factors are often attributed to family violence according to social science research?

<p>Environmental characteristics like poverty and unemployment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do victims often misunderstand the dynamics of their abusive relationships?

<p>They interpret abuse as a normal expression of love and anger (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common reason victims might stay in an abusive relationship?

<p>A belief in the perpetrator's promises to change (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Strauss Conflict Tactics Scale used for?

<p>Assessing physical violence and identifying high-risk situations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the cycle of violence seen in families?

<p>Violent relationships often originate before adulthood (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Aboriginal partners experienced spousal abuse between 1994 and 1999?

<p>20% (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Spousal Abuse

Violence, abuse, or neglect between spouses.

Patriarchal System

Social system that supports male dominance.

Spousal Abuse Causes

Include power imbalance, unemployment, and inappropriate masculinity.

Characteristics of Abuse

Underreporting, work stress, marital conflict and abuser's traits like jealousy.

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Power Imbalance

Unequal distribution of control in a relationship, often causing abuse.

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Underreporting

A significant factor hindering the understanding of spousal abuse prevalence.

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Marital Conflict

Disagreements and tensions within a marriage.

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Abuse Types

Interpersonal, systemic, or non-systemic abuse, impacting different relationships in varied ways.

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Who are the perpetrators?

Perpetrators of spousal abuse are often men with a history of violence in their own families. They tend to believe they have the right to control their partners, seeing them as possessions, and establish their power through abusive behaviors. Substance abuse, low education, and frequent arguments are typical characteristics.

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Why do victims stay?

Victims often see abuse as a normal expression of love and anger. They may tolerate abuse due to their partner's positive qualities, like income or social status. Victims may blame themselves or be persuaded to stay by their partner's promises to change.

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Battered Woman Syndrome

A psychological condition where abuse victims are unable to leave the relationship because they feel trapped and cannot see alternative solutions. This can be caused by isolation, dependence, and financial constraints.

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What makes leaving difficult?

Victims may face challenges leaving due to financial dependence, lack of safe alternatives, or fear of the abuser's reaction. They may also have dependent children, making leaving even more complex.

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Dating violence is...

Date rape and abuse occur almost as frequently as spousal abuse. Violent relationships often start before adulthood, with children who witness or experience violence being more likely to continue this pattern in their own relationships.

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How do we measure family violence?

The Strauss Conflict Tactics Scale measures the extent of family violence. This tool assesses physical violence and verbal aggression and helps identify high-risk situations based on the frequency and severity of abuse.

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Spousal abuse statistics

Between 1994 and 1999, 8% of Canadian women and 7% of Canadian men reported experiencing at least one violent incident. During the same period, 20% of Aboriginal partners faced spousal abuse compared to 7% of non-Aboriginal men and women.

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Social factors contributing to abuse

Some research attributes family violence to environmental factors such as poverty, glorification of violence, poor housing, and unemployment. These factors create challenging circumstances that increase the likelihood of violence.

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Intergenerational Cycle of Violence

A pattern where violence is passed down through generations, with victims becoming either abusers or abused in their own relationships.

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Tension-Building Phase

The first stage of the cycle of violence, where tension gradually increases, often due to an abuser's mood changes or controlling behaviors, creating an environment of fear and anxiety for the victim.

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Violence in Intimate Relationships

Acts of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse that occur within a romantic or familial partnership.

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Rule of Thumb

A historical term used in the 19th century to justify spousal abuse, allowing a man to physically discipline his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.

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Domestic Violence as a Private Matter

The historical perception of domestic violence as a personal issue between spouses, with police intervention limited and less emphasis on legal consequences.

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Women's Movement Impact on Violence

The women's movement in the 1970s brought greater attention to violence against women, shifting public opinion and leading to increased police involvement and legal responses.

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Police Response to Domestic Violence

Modern legal systems require police intervention in all domestic violence cases, with mandatory reporting and legal consequences enforced.

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Factors Contributing to Violence in Relationships

Experiences of violence or abuse during childhood can significantly increase the risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence in intimate relationships.

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Study Notes

Spousal Violence

  • Family violence encompasses violence, abuse, and neglect within families. This includes relationship violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse.

  • Prior to 1930, the term "family violence" wasn't used by social scientists. The pathology became recognized in the 1940s and 1960s with case studies highlighting child abuse.

  • Spousal abuse can be categorized as interpersonal, systemic, or non-systemic abuse.

  • Feminist sociologists link spousal abuse to patriarchal systems that validate male dominance. Masculinity, including strength and aggression, are magnified in abusers.

  • Conflict theorists view spousal abuse as power imbalance. Dominance is challenged through abuse to reassert it.

  • Higher rates of abuse occur when the husband is unemployed while the wife works, or when both spouses are unemployed. Egalitarian relationships, where power is shared, have lower abuse rates.

  • Spousal abuse is significantly directed at women and less frequently at men or in same-sex relationships. Common-law relationships experience more violence than marriages. Victim shame and social stigma often lead to underreporting.

  • Perpetrators are often men with violent family histories. They may see their partners as objects for control or sexual/emotional property. Low education, frequent conflict, and substance abuse are characteristics linked to abusers.

  • Environmental factors such as poverty, glorification of violence, poor housing, and unemployment, can contribute to family violence.

  • Victims often mistake abuse as normal anger or love. This can be influenced by financial or social stability from the perpetrator. Abuse can be tolerated for these positive attributes.

  • Abuse is rarely isolated or resolves spontaneously. Victims may stay due to developed "battered woman syndrome" or other factors.

  • Abusive relationships are marked by tension, acute abuse, and periods of calmness/reconciliation. The cycle of violence has distinct phases.

Consequences of Spousal Abuse

  • Marital violence perpetuates cycles, with abusive husbands often becoming abusive fathers and potentially creating a cycle among children.
  • Abuse results in physical, psychological, mental, emotional, and financial issues for victims.
  • Extreme cases have resulted in the death of victims.

Prevention and Remediation

  • Social attitudes are shifting and recognizing that violence is a family issue rather than a private one.
  • Interventions need to be more stringent and efficient. Programs to address underlying causes, such as substance issues, are more effective than superficial treatments.
  • Educational initiatives and training for young people and adults are crucial in prevention.
  • Reducing family stress and increasing support systems for families with children can help prevent abuse.
  • It is vital to have access to services such as support groups, shelters, counseling, and legal resources for victims of abuse.

Key Dates in Canada

  • 1965: Ontario first province to legislate child abuse reporting.
  • 1972: First Canadian shelter for abused women opened in Vancouver.
  • 1989: Major Canadian survey conducted on elder abuse.
  • 1993: Statistics Canada conducts Violence Against Women Survey.

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Spousal Violence PDF

Description

This quiz explores the complexities of spousal violence within the context of family dynamics. It covers the historical recognition of family violence, the categorization of spousal abuse, and different sociological perspectives on the issue. Understand how power imbalance and societal structures contribute to occurrences of abuse.

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