NCJ Number
54641
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE EXTENT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES, CONTRIBUTING CAUSES, AND PUBLIC RESPONSE ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
A 1976 STUDY BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 2,146 AMERICAN FAMILIES SHOWS PRELIMINARY RESULTS INDICATING THAT VIOLENCE BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS IS A WIDESPREAD PHENOMENON IN THE UNITED STATES. ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM HAS INCREASED SINCE THE 1960'S, WHEN VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN THE ASSASSINATIONS OF PUBLIC FIGURES AND CIVIL RIGHTS CONFLICTS, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RECEIVED SPECIAL ATTENTION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT. ALTHOUGH THE CURRENT LEVEL OF RESEARCH INTO FAMILY VIOLENCE IS FAR FROM PRODUCING A CONCLUSIVE THEORY OF ITS CAUSES, THERE ARE NUMEROUS STRUCTURAL AND SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES WHICH INTERACT TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF VIOLENCE OCCURRING IN AN AMERICAN FAMILY. THE STRUCTURAL ARRANGEMENT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY WHICH PRODUCES SOCIAL INEQUITY BETWEEN CLASSES OF INDIVIDUALS AND BETWEEN THE SEXES, TOGETHER WITH THE EXISTENCE OF NORMS FAVORABLE TO THE USE OF VIOLENCE IN SOLVING PROBLEMS, IS BELIEVED INSTRUMENTAL IN STIMULATING THE RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE IN THE HOME HAS ATTRACTED CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION FROM THE MASS MEDIA, POLITICIANS, AND SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL, THE ACTUAL CAUSES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED EFFECTIVELY. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND THE COURTS ARE RELUCTANT TO INTERVENE IN DOMESTIC CONFLICTS. THE SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEM HAS IGNORED SERIOUS FACETS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT IN 1976 THERE WERE ONLY SIX FUNCTIONING SHELTERS FOR BATTERED WIVES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. POSITIVE INDICATIONS OF INCREASED STATE AND FEDERAL ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM ARE NOTED, HOWEVER. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)