Combating Family Violence: Strategies to Prevent Physical Abuse

Abstract

[Name] One can argue that family violence as any form of intentional abuse, neglect, or mistreatment from a family member or sharing an intimate relationship. According to Huecker et al. (2022), using abusive behavior to harm or control a family member or a spouse defines family violence. Physical violence is among the significant sub-divisions of family violence. Huecker et al. (2022) argue that physical violence is the intentional application of physical force aimed at causing injury, harm, disability, or death to the target victim. Though the perpetrator may not always strive to cause physical pain, limiting the victims' self-determination is a potential force that fosters physical violence. Intentional use of restraint, weapons, slapping, hitting, burning, or grabbing, just to mention a few, are some great examples of deliberate use of physical power that defines physical violence within families. Unfortunately, though physical violence may harm the primary victim physically, it can also foster severe negative psychological impact on the victim and witnesses, thus the need to fight it out. Beating is among the significant types of physical violence that many experiences within families and intimate relationships. In beatings, the perpetrator aims to send a clear message that the unexpected can happen to the victim regardless of the environment or others within such environments. Beating causes physical harm to the victim and mostly happens to women from their male spouses. According to Lloyd (2018), hundreds of women and men are victims of physical violence in America, with children subjected to such torture, negatively affects their academic performance. Assumptions concerning gender-based roles foster differences among many family members, resulting in beatings to communicate conformity to the assumed roles. Unfortunately, if a child witnesses such beatings from their parents, they develop severe psychological harm that molds their criminal character in the long run. Burning is a form of physical violence experienced within families. Many may decide to put the house on fire as a way of expressing might towards the woman and cause severe harm through such burns. However, arguing this type of violence from a grudge point of view, one can conclude that if a victim remains exposed to physical violence and has no power to fight back, burning becomes the only option. What does a drunkard, violent man expect from a physically tortured woman whose might to fight this man is limited? The most viable remedy to fight against such a character is burning and often using hot water. A child may also decide to put the house on fire while the violent parents are inside to act against the harsh, violent environment. Regardless of its burning nature, controlling anger is the key to avoiding such occurrences as paying a wrong with a wrong never makes a right. External restraint theory demands conformity without questioning regardless of one’s contrary stand. Arguing beating from this theoretical point of view, it is open that some family members embrace violent behaviors to conform to the demands and expectations of the social circles. A man expects a woman to conform to the violent nature without questioning as a way of inflicting fears and...