NCJ Number
57456
Journal
FAMILY LAW Volume: 7 Issue: 7 Dated: (1977) Pages: 196-201
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PATHOLOGICAL, STRUCTURAL, AND RESOURCE THEORIES ABOUT CAUSES OF WIFE BATTERY ARE EXAMINED IN THIS BRITISH RESEARCH ARTICLE.
Abstract
WIFE BATTERY IS AN AGE-OLD PHENOMENON WHICH RESURFACED IN THE 1970'S WITH THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT. THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN BECAUSE MUCH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GOES UNREPORTED, DUE TO POLICE RELUCTANCE TO INTERVENE IN FAMILY DISPUTES AND THE WIFE'S RETICENCE TO REPORT ABUSE. INQUIRY INTO THE REASONS FOR WIFE BATTERY IS HAMPERED BY SUCH MYTHS AS: (1) VIOLENCE IN A FAMILY IS A LOWER CLASS PHENOMENON; (2) SEXUAL RELATIONS ARE VIOLENCE-PRODUCING; AND (3) VIOLENCE IS A NECESSARY RELEASE OF TENSION. NONE OF THESE MYTHS ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. THE DOMINANT PATHOLOGICAL THEORY OF WIFE ABUSE CITES THE BATTERER AS BEING A PYSCHOPATH, OFTEN ALCOHOLIC HIMSELF, AND BATTERED AS A CHILD. STRUCTURAL THEORY ATTRIBUTES MALE VIOLENCE TO FRUSTRATION, STRESS, AND BLOCKED GOALS, PARTICULARY IN LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES. RESOURCE THEORY CONTENDS THAT VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES IS PREVALENT WHEN THE HUSBAND/FATHER IS DEFICIENT IN RELATION TO THE WIFE/MOTHER ON AN ACHIEVED STATUS SCALE. VIOLENCE, THEREFORE, IS SEEN AS A REACTION TO UNDERACHIEVEMENT IN WORK ROLES AND AS A RESPONSE TO THE FRUSTRATION OF A LOW-STATUS JOB. A FOURTH THEORY--THE IDEOLOGY THAT SUPERIORITY HAS SPRUNG DIRECTLY FROM THE WOMAN'S MOVEMENT AND SEES MALE VIOLENCE AS A NECESSARY CONCOMITANT OF WOMAN'S OPPRESSED POSITION IN SOCIETY. ACCORDING TO THIS THEORY, MALE VIOLENCE IS ALSO SEEN AS A MEANS OF CONTROL OVER WOMEN. WHATEVER THE THEORY, HOWEVER, IF AGGRESSIVE INTERACTION IS ESSENTIALLY LEARNED BEHAVIOR, THE ERADICTION OF MALE VIOLENCE AND WIFE BATTERY MUST DEPEND UPON EDUCATION AND SOCIALIZATION PROCESSES. REFERENCE NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)